Oyo Police Intercepts N200m Stolen Rail Tracks

​In a major blow to a criminal syndicate targeting critical national infrastructure, the Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspects and recovered stolen railway tracks valued at approximately N200 million.

​The suspects, identified as Waheed Ayinde (54), Muhammed Sani (27), and Hassan Ibrahim (22), were apprehended on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, around 1:45 p.m. in the Gambari area of Orile-Igbon, Oyo State.

​Coordinated Criminal Operation

​According to the police, the breakthrough was the result of a “timely tip-off” from a vigilant member of the public. Acting on this intelligence, operatives from the Command Monitoring Unit intercepted a HOWO truck (registration number CAL 972 XA) loaded with the stolen materials before they could reach their intended destination.

​Preliminary investigations reveal that the syndicate engaged in a sophisticated, multi-state operation:

• ​Source: The railway tracks were unlawfully removed from Niger State.

• ​Transit: The materials were transported into Oyo State, where they were temporarily stored in Ogbomoso.

• ​Destination: The final intended destination for the stolen goods was Lagos.

​The roles within the syndicate were clearly defined, consisting of a contracted driver, a co-conspirator who managed the logistics, and a receiver who provided the storage location in Ogbomoso.

​Commitment to Infrastructure Protection

​The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the citizen who provided the information, emphasizing that the operation serves as a testament to the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing. He reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure and warned that Oyo State would not serve as a safe haven for economic saboteurs.

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​The police have confirmed that the suspects have made confessional statements and are currently assisting investigators. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large.

​This incident follows a series of recent alarms raised by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) regarding the surge in vandalism across various states, including Plateau and Bauchi, which the corporation warns could lead to catastrophic train accidents and severe disruption to national development.

​For more information on the ongoing efforts to curb railway vandalism, you can view this report on railway security.

​This video provides additional context regarding recent efforts by authorities to address the growing threat of infrastructure vandalism along rail corridors in Nigeria.