Oyo State Police Bust Railway Vandalism Syndicate, Recover Stolen Tracks Worths in #200M
…Three suspects arrested as investigators trace stolen railway infrastructure from Niger State to Lagos route
Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered stolen railway tracks valued at about ₦200 million in a major operation against the vandalisation of critical national infrastructure.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement issued, saying the breakthrough followed credible intelligence provided by a vigilant member of the public.
According to the statement, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit acted on the tip-off and intercepted the suspects at Gambari in the Orile-Igbon area of Oyo State on Monday, July 14, 2026, at about 1:45 p.m., before the stolen railway materials could be transported to their final 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 State, allegedly used to transport the stolen materials.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the railway tracks were illegally removed from Niger State and brought into Oyo State, with Lagos identified as the intended final destination.
Police said the suspects played different roles in the syndicate, including serving as the driver conveying the stolen items, coordinating the operation, and providing temporary storage for the materials in Ogbomoso.
The Command added that the suspects have made useful confessional statements and are cooperating with investigators, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate, recover more exhibits, and conclude investigations before prosecuting those involved.
While reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, commended the member of the public whose timely information led to the arrests.
He described the operation as another testament to the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and community partnership.
The Commissioner urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies, assuring them that all actionable intelligence would receive prompt attention.
He also reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding critical national infrastructure and preventing Oyo State from becoming a safe haven for criminals and perpetrators of economic sabotage.
