A staff member of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Gift Eseeli, 38, has been arrested for allegedly stealing signal cables along the Warri-Itakpe rail corridor.
The arrest was made on Thursday by the Man O’ War Railway Command at Rafa Yard.
A statement released by the NRC’s Acting Spokesman, Callistus Unyimadu, said the stolen 50mm armoured signal cables were found and handed over to the police, who have launched an investigation.
The NRC said Eseeli was caught removing the cables from trackside installations before he was stopped by security officers led by Mr. Williams Agiake.
The statement reads, “The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) wishes to inform members of the public that operatives of the Man O’ War Railway Command apprehended one Gift Eseeli (male, 38), an NRC employee, at Rafa Yard along the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor for alleged cable theft.
“Preliminary findings indicate that several lengths of 50mm armoured signal cable had been removed from the trackside installations before vigilant officers, led by Mr. Williams Agiake, intercepted the suspect. The stolen items were recovered intact and handed over to the Nigerian Police Force, which has commenced a full investigation.
“The Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has always stated that: ‘Railway assets are national assets. Acts of vandalism endanger passenger safety and sabotage the Renewed Hope infrastructure drive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.’
He stressed that the NRC will take legal action against anyone, including its staff, found guilty of tampering with rail assets.
KanyiDaily also reported that the police arrested a 19-year-old crossdresser, Mohammed Umar, after he was found wandering around the LCCN Church in Ngurore, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa.