The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has thwarted an alleged attempt to vandalise railway infrastructure at the siding serving Dangote Steel Rolling Mills in Osogbo, Osun State.
Nine oxygen gas cylinders suspected to have been taken to the location for the operation were recovered after the intervention by railway and security personnel.
The incident occurred after the NRC’s Principal Track Officer in Osogbo received information on Friday, August 28, about suspected ongoing vandalism of railway track materials at the facility.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NRC Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the track officer immediately moved to the location alongside security personnel after receiving the report.
The corporation said the suspected vandals abandoned the site and fled when they noticed the arrival of the security operatives.
“A search of the area led to the recovery of nine oxygen gas cylinders reportedly brought to the site for the illegal operation,” the NRC said.
The affected railway materials and surrounding area have since been secured by security personnel, including officers attached to the NSCDC Railway Command.
Reacting to the development, the NRC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa, described the intervention as another major achievement in the corporation’s continuing efforts to protect railway infrastructure from vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage.
Opeifa commended the security personnel for their vigilance and prompt response, urging security formations operating along the railway network to strengthen surveillance and enforcement measures.
He said the protection of railway infrastructure was critical not only to the safety of railway operations but also to the continued sustainability of services and the broader economic development of Nigeria.
“Railway infrastructure constitutes critical national assets whose protection is essential to the safety of rail operations, sustainability of services and the economic development of the country,” Opeifa said.
The NRC chief executive also appealed to residents and communities located along railway corridors to assist security agencies by reporting suspicious activities around railway tracks, stations and other railway facilities.
He directed security operatives to intensify efforts to identify, apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the attempted vandalisation of the railway materials at the Dangote Steel Rolling Mills siding.
Opeifa further assured that the NRC would continue to work with relevant security agencies to combat vandalism and other activities capable of disrupting railway operations across the country.
The latest incident highlights the continuing security challenges facing railway infrastructure in Nigeria, where theft and vandalism of rail assets can threaten both the safety of passengers and the reliability of railway services.
