Two arrested as police intercept trucks carrying ‘stolen rail tracks’ in Enugu

The Enugu police command has arrested two suspected railway track vandals in Emene area of the state.

Daniel Ndukwe, Enugu police spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Ndukwe said the police recovered two lorries containing the vandalised items, which included rail line tracks, slippers, clips, among others.

He explained the success was achieved as a result of operational strategies involving collaboration with other security agencies.

Ndukwe said the strategies were initiated by Mohammed Aliyu, Enugu commissioner of police.

“One Chukwuma Okoye, 56, and Oluchukwu Igboke, 25, were intercepted and arrested on July 2 at about 1:40 a.m.,” he said.

“The duo were arrested by a patrol team, headed by the officer-in-charge of the Command’s anti-kidnapping squad, at Emene, along Enugu-Abakaliki jighway, Enugu.

“Upon search conducted on two Mercedes trucks with registration numbers: AWK 296 YX and UWN 471 ZX, they were respectively driving, the operatives uncovered large pieces of vandalised railway tracks and other materials.

“They both confessed to be transporting the vandalised and stolen items from Ezza-Nkwubor in Emene to Onitsha, Anambra State.”

In a related development, the Enugu command said one Boniface Eze, aged 37, was arrested while allegedly conveying vandalised rail items in a Mercedes 911 lorry, on June 9.

He was said to be conveying vandalised railway tracks and slippers, before he was nabbed by police operatives attached to the command’s CP monitoring unit in Emene area of the state.

The spokesperson said the arrest was due to police operatives’ swift response to credible information.

“The suspect and driver of the said lorry also confessed to be transporting the vandalised items to Onitsha, Anambra State,’’ he said.

He further said the commissioner had warned that vandals who refuse to desist from destroying national infrastructure will face the law.

He added that the police have intensified efforts to ensure the arrest of those who are accomplices to the crime.

“The commissioner calls on residents of the state to remain law abiding, vigilant, and promptly report criminals and their acts of vandalism to the nearest police station,” he added.