The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced a fresh breakthrough in its ongoing clampdown on railway vandalism, following the arrest and prosecution of a suspected track vandal in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the corporation disclosed that the suspect, Bashiru Hafeez, 32, was apprehended on Thursday, March 26, 2026, by security personnel attached to the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Ebute-Metta during a routine patrol. According to the NRC, the arrest was carried out by operatives of Multi Eye Security Services, who are responsible for safeguarding critical rail infrastructure within the corridor.
The suspect was reportedly found in possession of fifteen pandrol clips—iron rail fasteners essential for maintaining track stability—believed to have been illegally removed from the narrow-gauge rail line at Alagomeji. Authorities warned that the removal of such components poses significant safety risks, including the possibility of train derailments.
Following his arrest, Hafeez was handed over to the Nigerian Railway Police Command for further investigation and prosecution. He was subsequently arraigned before a competent court in Lagos, where he was remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further hearing. The case has been adjourned to April 24, 2026.
Reacting to the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Kayode Opeifa, reiterated the corporation’s zero-tolerance stance on railway vandalism. He described such acts as economic sabotage capable of endangering lives and undermining national infrastructure.
Opeifa commended the vigilance and swift response of the security personnel involved in the arrest and assured the public that the NRC would continue to intensify efforts to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals and syndicates responsible for the destruction and theft of railway assets.
He further warned that anyone found culpable of vandalising railway infrastructure or dealing in stolen rail materials would face the full weight of the law.
The corporation also called on members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around railway corridors, stressing that the rail system remains a critical national asset that must be protected collectively.
