The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered stolen rail tracks valued at about ₦200 million in a major operation against the destruction of critical national infrastructure.
The suspects — Waheed Ayinde (59), Muhammed Sani (27), and Hassan Ibrahim (22) — were arrested on July 14, 2026, following credible intelligence from a member of the public.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said operatives of the Command’s Monitoring Unit, acting on the tip-off, intercepted the suspects at Gambari, Orile-Igbon before the stolen railway materials could be transported to their destination.
Recovered during the operation were vandalised railway tracks estimated at ₦200 million and a HOWO truck with registration number CAL 972 XA (Cross River), allegedly used to transport the stolen items.
Police investigations revealed that the rail tracks were illegally removed from Kaduna State and transported through Oyo State, en route Lagos.
Investigators also established that the suspects played different roles in the syndicate, including transporting, coordinating, and temporarily storing the stolen materials in Ogbomoso.
According to the PPRO, the suspects have made useful confessional statements and are cooperating with investigators, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate and recover additional exhibits.
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, commended the public for providing timely intelligence, describing the arrest as a testament to effective intelligence-led policing and community partnership.
He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure and ensuring Oyo State does not become a haven for economic saboteurs.
