Nigerian Railway Corporation takes alleged rail line saboteur to court in Lagos

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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LAGOS — The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has arraigned a suspected railway vandal in Lagos as part of its intensified crackdown on attacks against the nation’s rail infrastructure.

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The suspect, 32-year-old Bashiru Hafeez, was apprehended by security personnel from Multi Eye Security Services at Mobolaji Johnson Train Station (MJS), Ebute-Metta, during a routine patrol. He was found in possession of 15 pandrol clips — iron fasteners crucial for track stability — believed to have been unlawfully removed from the narrow gauge line at Alagomeji.

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The removal of these components poses serious safety risks, including potential train derailments. Following his arrest, Hafeez was handed over to the Nigerian Railway Police Command for investigation and prosecution.

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He was subsequently arraigned before a court in Lagos and remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, with the case adjourned to April 24, 2026, for further hearing.

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The NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, reiterated the Corporation’s zero-tolerance stance on railway vandalism, describing such acts as “economic sabotage” that endanger lives and undermine national infrastructure. He commended the security personnel for their vigilance and swift action, promising that the NRC, in collaboration with security agencies, would continue to identify, arrest, and prosecute those involved in vandalism or dealing in stolen railway materials.

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“Anyone found culpable in vandalizing railway infrastructure or trading in stolen railway assets will face the full weight of the law,” Opeifa warned.

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The NRC also urged the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities around railway corridors, emphasizing the strategic importance of the rail network to national development. Opeifa assured passengers and stakeholders of the Corporation’s commitment to safe, secure, and efficient rail operations across Nigeria.

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