Bola Longe, Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State.
By Abasifreke Effiong
The Police in Nasarawa State are under intense pressure to release eight suspects arrested in connection with the vandalisation of the Lafia railway facilities.
The suspects allegedly vandalised, removed and carted away the metal chambers on the rail line around Agaragu – Gudi in Nasarawa State, rendering the Makurdi – Lafia – Jos rail line impassable.
Sources told The Dune that the Anti-Kidnapping unit in Nasarawa State led by CSP Anietie Eyo arrested eight suspects including one Mohammed Isiaka, an indigene of Nasarawa Eggon, in two separate operations earlier this week.
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Our sources said “the suspects are highly connected to very influential people and these people are mounting pressure on the police to get them released even though the suspects have confessed to the crime.
“Vandalisation of railway line is a series act of economic sabotage against the country. Such crime should attract capital punishment.”
Our sources alleged that the suspects are working for foreign nationals, this claim could not be independently verified by The Dune.
“From what we have gathered from our sources within in the police, those suspects steal those railway installations and sell them to some dubious foreigners. We are working, soon we will mobilize CSOs to make a statement on the arrest and we will resist any attempt to get the suspects released”, one of our sources who did not want to be named said.
One of the suspected railway vandals arrested by the Police in Nasarawa State.(Photo credit : The Dune)
It is about one week now since the suspects were arrested and detained by the Police, but the Nasarawa State Police Command has not paraded them nor issue a formal statement on their arrest.
The silence of the Police has reinforced insinuations that the Police hierarchy in the State is under intense pressure to release the suspects.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Nasarawa State, ASP Ramhan Nansel, said it is normal for family members of suspects to want to get their relatives out of Police detention.
“Definitely people like that have their own brothers and sisters who would not want them to be incarcerated but we are determined to not yield to the demands of anybody that is in support of a crime like this one. So, the law will take its course.”
A section of Makurdi – Lafia – Jos railway in Agaragu -Gudi destroyed by vandals. (Photo credit: The Dune.)
ASP Nansel explained that the delay in parading the suspects was to allow the
Police complete her investigations, promising that the suspects would be paraded latest next week.
“We would have paraded them. I am assuring you that before the week runs out or maximum next week, we will parade the suspects. In investigations like this, you have to take it to a certain level to find the culpability of certain persons in order for you not to parade those who are innocent. So, there are processes involved and you would want to get accomplices in order to make your findings hefty. That is the reason for the delay”, the PPRO said.
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Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has called on the Police to arrest the buyers of vandalised rail track facilities and other equipment.
Amaechi who made the call on Saturday in Ibadan during the inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project said cases of vandalisation exist because there are people who have indicated interest in the vandalised facilities.
He also said the rate of vandalisation would reduce if the judiciary system dispenses justice without delay, adding that State Government need to create more jobs.
“I don’t know why some Nigerians are like the way they are. I have told the Managing Director of NRC to arrest the buyers of the equipment. It is not enough to arrest the vandals.
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“It is likened to those who said why should the National Assembly punish those who pay ransom, that law was first passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly when I was a speaker and the reason is, that, when there is no demand, there will be no supply.
“If we don’t pay ransom, they will be tired and they will stop. The same way, if they don’t buy those metals, slippers and others, nobody will steal them.”
“Also, we must approach the Judiciary to have court that can dispense justice readily so that people are sent to jail early enough to deter others and we will also encourage our governors to create jobs”, the Minister said.
