The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered stolen railway tracks valued at approximately ₦200 million.
According to the Command, the suspects—Waheed Ayinde (54), Muhammed Sani (27), and Hassan Ibrahim (22)—were apprehended following credible intelligence from a member of the public, which enabled operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit to intercept the stolen materials before they reached their destination.
Police said the operation was carried out in Gambari, Orile-Igbon area of Oyo State, where officers also recovered a HOWO truck allegedly used to transport the vandalised railway tracks.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the railway tracks were illegally removed from Niger State and transported through Oyo, with Lagos identified as the intended final destination.
The suspects have reportedly made confessional statements and are assisting investigators in identifying other members of the syndicate. The Police Command said efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects, recover additional exhibits, and conclude investigations ahead of prosecution.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, commended the resident whose timely information led to the successful operation and urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.
