Oyo Police Arrest Three Suspected Railway Vandals, Recover Stolen Rail Tracks Worth ₦200 Million
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered stolen railway tracks valued at approximately ₦200 million in a major operation against the vandalisation of critical national infrastructure.
The suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence provided by a vigilant member of the public. Acting on the tip-off, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit swiftly mobilised to the Gambari, Orile-Igbon area of Oyo State, where they intercepted the suspects on July 14, 2026, at about 1:45 p.m., preventing the stolen railway materials from being moved to their intended destination.
The suspects were identified as Waheed Ayinde, 54; Muhammed Sani, 27; and Hassan Ibrahim, 22. Recovered during the operation were vandalised railway tracks estimated to be worth ₦200 million and a HOWO truck with registration number CAL 972 XA (Cross River), allegedly used to transport the stolen items.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the railway tracks were illegally removed from Niger State and transported into Oyo State as part of a coordinated criminal operation, with Lagos identified as the intended final destination.
Police said the suspects played different roles in the syndicate, including serving as the truck driver conveying the stolen rail tracks, coordinating the operation, and providing temporary storage for the stolen materials in Ogbomoso before their onward movement.
The Command disclosed that the suspects had made useful confessional statements and were cooperating with investigators.
It added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large, recover additional exhibits and conclude investigations ahead of prosecution.
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, commended the member of the public whose timely information led to the arrests.
He described the operation as a testament to the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and community partnership.
The Commissioner urged residents to continue supporting the police and other security agencies with credible and timely information, assuring them that every actionable intelligence would receive prompt attention.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure and vowed that Oyo State would not become a safe haven for criminals or perpetrators of economic sabotage.
Oyo Police Arrest Three Suspected Railway Vandals, Recover Stolen Rail Tracks Worth ₦200 Million
Byadmin
Jul 15, 2026