The Oyo State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against economic sabotage with the arrest of three suspected members of a railway vandalism syndicate and the recovery of vandalised railway tracks valued at approximately ₦200 million.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the operation was made possible through a timely tip-off from a vigilant member of the public.
Acting on the credible intelligence, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit swiftly mobilised to Gambari, Orile-Igbon, in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, where they intercepted the suspects at about 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, before the stolen railway materials could be transported to their final destination.
The suspects were identified as:
Waheed Ayinde (54)
Muhammed Sani (27)
Hassan Ibrahim (22)
During the operation, officers recovered vandalised railway tracks estimated to be worth ₦200 million and a HOWO truck bearing registration number CAL 972 XA (Cross River State), which police allege was being used to transport the stolen materials.
According to preliminary investigations, the railway tracks were unlawfully removed from Niger State before being transported into Oyo State as part of what investigators described as a coordinated criminal operation, with Lagos reportedly serving as the intended final destination.
Police further alleged that each of the three suspects played different roles within the syndicate. According to investigators:
One suspect allegedly served as the contracted driver responsible for conveying the stolen railway tracks to Lagos.
Another allegedly coordinated aspects of the criminal operation.
The third allegedly acted as a temporary receiver by providing a storage location in Ogbomoso before the materials were to be secretly moved onward.
The Police Command stated that the suspects have each made useful confessional statements and are cooperating with investigators as efforts continue to dismantle the wider syndicate.
Authorities also disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the criminal network who remain at large, recover additional exhibits linked to the operation, and conclude investigations ahead of prosecution.
Commending the operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, praised the vigilant citizen whose timely information led to the successful interception.
He described the operation as a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the importance of strong partnerships between the police and the public.
The Commissioner urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to law enforcement agencies, assuring them that actionable intelligence would always receive prompt operational attention.
He also reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s critical national infrastructure, stressing that the Oyo State Police Command would not allow the state to become a safe haven for criminals involved in economic sabotage.
The case remains under investigation, and the suspects are expected to face prosecution upon its conclusion.
