‘Vandals’ of Warri-Itakpe rail line arrested

Some suspected vandals of the Warri-Itakpe rail line, who allegedly destroyed the tracks and carted away the rail rods, have been arrested.

The Itakpe-Warri railway line, which links Warri in Delta state to Ajaokuta in Kogi state, was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2020.

In April, Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, also flagged off freight and haulage services on the rail line to boost economic activities.

In a viral video, it was seen that vandals had used saw-like objects to cut the rail line in pieces, thereby endangering the lives of commuters.

Some bolts and knots were also removed showing the vandals’ readiness to cart away the iron rails.

Fidet Okhiria, managing director/chief executive officer of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), had said the incident occurred around KM 30, Adogo, a Kogi state section of the rail.

This development comes few days after the NRC announced arrest of two persons suspected of vandalising rail tracks along Kaduna-Zaria rail line.

Haruna Sabo, the NRC northern district engineer who made the announcement, said those arrested were members of a syndicate that specialises in removing rail clips that hold sleepers and rail tracks together