Police arrest five suspects over railway infrastructure vandalisation in Yobe

The Yobe State Police Command has arrested five suspects allegedly involved in the vandalisation of railway infrastructure within the state and recovered 85 vandalised railway steel sleepers.

The command, in a statement through its Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this on Saturday, noting that in collaboration with members of the Hunters Group, the suspects were arrested in the Nannawaji area of Gujba LGA while transporting the vandalised railway steel sleepers en route to Potiskum LGA.

“The suspects were arrested in a Mitsubishi Canter vehicle with registration number YAB-234YJ (Abuja), loaded with 85 railway steel sleepers suspected to have been unlawfully removed from railway installations.

“The suspects are Abdullahi Habu, 27, of Potiskum LGA; Abba Muhammed, 18, of Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA; Salisu Adamu, 20, of Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA; Isiyaka Adamu, 20, of Potiskum LGA; and Muhammed Muhammadu, 23, of Kukareta, Damaturu LGA,” the command said.

It said that during preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed that the alleged mastermind behind the vandalisation is one Abba Chari, 45, a resident of the Yadin Buni area of Gujba LGA.

According to the police command, investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting other accomplices and ensuring the diligent prosecution of all persons connected to the crime.

Commissioner of Police Usman Kanfani Jibrin, in the statement, warned criminal elements to desist from acts of vandalism and other related offences.

He further reiterated that anyone found engaging in vandalisation of public infrastructure or any criminal activity will face the full wrath of the law.