By MOHAMMED TIJJANI

The 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna said its operatives have arrested 47 suspected rail track vandals.

The division’s acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Lt.-Col, Musa Yahaya, made the disclosure on Saturday in Kaduna.

Yahaya said, “The arrest was made by the troops while on routine patrol along Kakau Daji- Anguwan Ayaba, they intercepted and arrested 47 suspected rail track vandals on June 26.”

He said the suspects had loaded two trucks with the vandalized rail tracks before their arrests.

Yahaya stated that the suspects revealed that they were employed by one Alhaji Babawo, who is at large, to load the vandalized rail tracks and off- load the same in a nearby bush along the road.

He disclosed that the suspects were profiled at the 312 Artillery Regiment Kaduna.

The acting Commander, 1 Division Provost Group, Lt.-Col. IY Rena, was quoted as stating that the suspects were profiled to ascertain their level of involvement during preliminary investigation.

He further stated that the suspects were also individually interviewed and cross-examined while efforts were in place to arrest the gang leader who is currently at large.

Rena added that on visit to the crime scene, some of the vandalized rail tracks were found concealed in the nearby bush waiting to be evacuated by the criminal syndicates.

The suspects were handed over to the authorities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kaduna Station, represented by the Divisional Crime Officer.

Rena urged the relevant security agencies to make adequate arrangements and deliberate efforts to secure the rail tracks from further vandalisation.

The representative of the corporation and Divisional Crime Officer, ASP Inuwa Dahiru, commended the troops for their proactiveness and collaboration with other security agencies in tackling the mirage of security challenges confronting the state.

He assured the Nigerian Army that all the 47 suspects would be thoroughly investigated before they were charged to court to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded persons.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation Whirl Punch, Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, commended the troops for their professional conduct during and after the successful arrest of the suspects.

He also charged the troops to remain resilient and focused in order to bring all the criminal elements in the division’s ‘Operational Area of Responsibility’ to their knees. (NAN)