The Nigeria Police Force has foiled a major railway vandalism operation, arresting two suspects and recovering infrastructure materials valued at over ₦400 million in a coordinated intelligence-led operation.
Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) apprehended the suspects — Chisom Goodnews, 32, and Ahmed Adamu, 22 — on April 9, 2026, in Akwanga following actionable intelligence.
In a statement on Monday by DCP Anthony Okon Placid, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters Abuja, the operation led to the interception of a trailer truck transporting about 60 tonnes of vandalised railway tracks and sleepers.
DCP Placid stated, items were concealed beneath sacks of groundnut shells in an attempt to evade detection while being moved from Bauchi State to Ilorin.
According to Force spokesperson, preliminary investigations revealed that the truck driver had been hired for ₦2.5 million to transport the illicit cargo.
He explained that the discovery points to a well-organised supply chain involving multiple actors, including receivers of stolen railway infrastructure.
In a dramatic twist, officers involved in the operation, he added, rejected a ₦100 million bribe allegedly offered to secure the release of the suspects and the seized materials, underscoring what police authorities described as a rare display of integrity and professionalism.
He stated that the trailer used in conveying the items had been impounded, while efforts were also ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen assets.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the operatives for their courage and incorruptibility, stating that their actions reflected the core values of the Force.
He reiterated the police commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure and cracking down on criminal networks engaged in economic sabotage across the country.
