Nigerian Soldier, Police Inspector Arrested for Vandalising, Stealing Railway Property in Kaduna

A Nigerian soldier and a police inspector identified as Akowe Joel have been arrested for vandalising and stealing customised batteries belonging to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Kaduna. A staff member of the NRC was also apprehended in connection with the incident.

The arrests were made around 3:00 p.m. on March 19, 2025, by troops of Sub-Sector 4, Operation FANSAN YAMMA — a joint military task force operating in Nigeria’s North-West region to combat insecurity.

According to a police signal obtained by SaharaReporters, the suspects were caught in the act and are currently being held at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division in Kaduna for further investigation. The communication, sent from the Commanding Officer of the 37 Police Mobile Force, confirmed the involvement of the police inspector, the unnamed soldier, and an NRC employee in the theft of railway property.

This incident follows a similar case involving two army personnel, Corporal Innocent Joseph and Lance Corporal Jacob Gani, who were arrested months earlier for stealing 897 armoured cables from the Dangote Refinery in Lagos. They were caught attempting to move the cables out of the facility after cutting them to size.