A Nigerian soldier, a Police Inspector identified as Akowe Joel, and a staff member of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have been arrested for allegedly stealing customised batteries from the NRC.
They were caught moving out of the facility with 897 armoured cables cut to size.
The incident, which occurred on March 19, 2025, has raised concerns about internal collusion in the theft of critical public assets.
According to a police signal obtained by journalists, the trio was apprehended at 3 p.m. by troops of Sub-Sector 4, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a joint military theater command tasked with addressing insecurity in the North-West region.
The arrest took place in Kaduna, where the suspects were caught red-handed with the stolen items.
The customised batteries, essential for the operations of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, are part of ongoing efforts to modernise and improve the country’s rail infrastructure.
The signal by the police read, “GOOD AFTERNOON SIR X SITREP X 20/03//2025 X 37 PMF X GRATEFUL BE INFORMED THAT X INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM ASP JOHN MOSES X UC MINE ON OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA KADUNA STATE X HAS IT THAT AT ABOUT 1500HRS OF 19/03/2025 X INSP AKOWE JOEL X MEMBER OF UNIT MINE ON SPECIAL DUTY X WAS CAUGHT ALONG WITH ONE SOLDIER X AND ONE STAFF OF THE NIGERIAN RAILWAY X FOR STEALING SOME CUSTOMISED BATTERIES X PROPERTY OF THE RAILWAY STATION KADUNA X SUBJECTS X HAVE BEEN DETAINED AT 1 DIV. NIGERIAN ARMY HQS KADUNA FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION X FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE CONVEYED SOON AS ARE AVAILABLE PLEASE XX XX CO 37 PMF.”
This is coming months after two personnel of the Nigerian Army, CPL Innocent Joseph and L/CPL Jacob Gani were arrested for vandalising and stealing armoured cables at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos State. Nigerian cultural tourism packages
Authorities have launched a thorough investigation to determine the extent of the theft and whether the suspects are part of a larger syndicate.
The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to face prosecution under relevant laws.
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