The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command has recovered 61 vandalised rail tracks of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Guardian learnt that hoodlums vandalised the rail tracks in the Oyigbo axis, which affected operations of the coaches and hampered rail transportation from Port Harcourt to Aba and Enugu.
Rivers State Commandant of NSCDC, Muktar Lawal, however, told journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt, that no suspect had been arrested in connection with the damages, but assured that the command had deployed more personnel to various parts of the state to monitor illegality, arrest and prosecute perpetrators.
Lawal said it was disheartening that despite Federal Government’s efforts to rejig rail transportation in the country, criminals were destroying critical national assets and infrastructure along the rail line.
He said: “The state command in conjunction with the NSCDC’s Railway Command has measures in place to stop vandalism along the rail tracks in Rivers State.”
He also disclosed that it secured 101 convictions in the last six months and recently secured an order for the forfeiture of over 150 trucks of adulterated petroleum products.
While parading 28 suspects of diversion of petroleum products in various parts of the state at its headquarters, Lawal noted that their arrest followed collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the command.
“The NSCDC arrested suspected thieves of oil wellhead belonging to an oil company in Chokocho Community, Etche Council Rivers State.”
“Our anti-vandalism team on February 6, 2021 recovered a truck used in conveying Automated Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel concealed in bags from the suspects.
“On February 18, 2021, the command arrested four suspects of illegal dealings in petroleum products at Rumuokoro, Obio/Akpor Council. The products were contained in a DAF truck,” he said.
Continuing, he said on February 23, 2021, the anti-vandalism patrol team arrested a truck loaded with unspecified liters of stolen crude oil along Ebocha road in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Council, adding that the team arrested six suspected oil thieves and a truck filled with adulterated AGO at Choba.
Also, four suspects and two trucks conveying 20 pipes at Ahoada East on the East West road were arrested,” he said, adding that the arrested suspects were being investigated and would be charged to court for prosecution.
Lawal however, urged members of the public to provide the command useful information on any planned activities that might cause security breach in the state for its prompt intervention.
