NSCDC arrests rail track vandal in Osun, warns scrap dealers

The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended a 24-year-old man, Olalekan Kehinde, for allegedly vandalising a railway track in the Dagbolu area of Osogbo.

In a statement released on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Kehinde Adeleke, disclosed that the suspect, along with his accomplice identified as Abbey, carried out the act over two consecutive days.

The statement read: “On Sunday, November 17, 2024, the suspect, Olalekan Kehinde, and his friend Abbey, who is currently at large, vandalised the railway track at Dagbolu, Osun State, by using a hammer to remove the pandrol clips.

“The following day, Monday, November 18, 2024, they were caught in the act of vandalising the railway at Dagbolu. One of the suspects was arrested while the second escaped.”
According to Adeleke, Kehinde confessed that his accomplice taught him how to remove the pandrol clips, and the stolen items were sold as scrap to metal buyers in the state.
Reacting to the arrest, the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, condemned the increasing rate of vandalism of national assets and warned scrap dealers against purchasing stolen materials.

Sotiyo stated, “We will embark on routine operations around the stores of metal scrap buyers in the state, and anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.”
He also commended the residents of Dagbolu for their timely intelligence, which led to the successful apprehension of the suspect.

Pandrol clips are high-strength steel fasteners used to secure railway tracks to sleepers, ensuring track stability, proper alignment, and vibration absorption during train operations.

Their elastic design maintains tension on the rails, enhancing safety and reducing maintenance needs. Due to their metal value, they are often targeted by vandals for sale as scrap, which compromises track integrity and poses significant safety risks.