Police recover N200m rail tracks, arrest 3 suspects in Oyo

Oyo state Police command has recovered stolen rail tracks valued at about N200 million from three suspected vandals.

 The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement late Tuesday, said the suspected vandals were intercepted by men of the command at Gambari, Orile-Igbon area of Oyo state.

He added that preliminary investigation revealed that the railway tracks were unlawfully removed from Niger state and transported to Oyo state.

“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit swiftly mobilised to Gambari, Orile-Igbon area of Oyo state, where they intercepted the suspects on 14 July, 2026 at about 1:45 p.m. before the stolen railway materials could be moved to their final destination,” he said.

DSP Ayanlade added: “The suspects, identified as Waheed Ayinde ‘M’ (54 years), Muhammed Sani ‘M’ (27 years), and Hassan Ibrahim ‘M’ (22 years), were arrested in connection with the illegal movement of vandalised railway tracks”.

“Recovered during the operation were vandalised rail tracks estimated to be worth ₦200 million and a HOWO truck bearing registration number CAL 972 XA (Cross River), allegedly used in conveying the stolen items.

 The PPRO said, ” Preliminary investigation revealed that the railway tracks were unlawfully removed from Niger state and transported into Oyo state as part of a coordinated criminal operation, with Lagos serving as the intended final destination.

“Further findings established that the arrested suspects played distinct roles in the syndicate. They include the contracted driver responsible for conveying the stolen railway tracks to Lagos, a co-conspirator involved in coordinating the operation, and a temporary receiver who provided a storage location in Ogbomoso pending the clandestine movement of the stolen materials to their final destination.”