NRC Raises Alarm Over Vandalism in Plateau and Bauchi Railway Lines.

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has issued a new warning after a series of coordinated attacks on railway infrastructure were reported in several parts of the country.

The alert follows recent incidents of vandalism in Plateau and Bauchi States.

Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the NRC, conveyed the concerns through the corporation’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Mr. Callistus Unyimadu. He described the incidents as a direct assault on critical national infrastructure and an affront to public safety, economic growth, and national security.

On May 21, 2026, a truck allegedly carrying vandalized railway materials became stranded between Kuru and Science School in Kuru, Plateau State. The event exposed the activities of criminal elements involved in the destruction and illegal movement of railway components.

In Bauchi State, between Kilometers 878 and 889 along Zango, railway sleepers were entirely removed from both sides of a level crossing, leaving only a few disjointed rail pieces.

The NRC warned that such acts could lead to catastrophic train accidents, disrupt rail services, cause loss of life, and destroy government investments worth billions of naira.

The corporation emphasized that railway tracks, sleepers, clips, fastenings, and signaling equipment are critical national assets built with taxpayers’ money to support transportation, trade, economic activity, and national development. These assets should not be treated as scrap for illegal business.

Dr. Opeifa strongly condemned the ongoing attacks on railway facilities, labeling them as sabotage against national progress and a serious threat to passengers and railway personnel.

He noted that the increasing incidents of vandalism in the North Central and North East corridors reveal a dangerous pattern that demands urgent collective action from security agencies, state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents living along railway lines.

Opeifa urged Nigerians to regard railway infrastructure as a national symbol and strategic economic asset that must be protected at all times.

He warned vandals, scrap dealers, and anyone involved in the illegal purchase, movement, or destruction of railway materials to desist immediately, stressing that those caught would face the full weight of the law.

Opeifa also called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations around railway corridors nationwide, while urging the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities near railway facilities.

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