Chinese Marra Thai, Nasarawa official, policemen arrested over theft of rail tracks, sleepers

A Chinese national, Marra Thai and an aide of Gov. Abdullahi Sule were among the 15 people arrested for theft of rail tracks and rail sleepers in Nasarawa state.

Governor Sule’s aide was identified as Yusuf Abubakar Musa, the adviser on infrastructure.

Some of the suspects were caught on the spot vandalising the rail connection between Nasarawa and Benue states, to harvest their rail heists.

Mr Bola Longe, Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa state, announced this while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Lafia.

He said 15 other suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.

Among them were two policemen – an Inspector and a Sergeant attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia; and a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Longe explained that the suspects were arrested in two separate operations while stealing railway tracks and sleepers on May 16, and May 24, in Agyaragun Tofa in Lafia and Kadarko in Keana Local Government Areas of the state.

The commissioner said that the Chinese, Mr. Marra Thai, Manager of Yong Xing Steel Company, Tunga Maje, FCT Abuja was arrested as a criminal receiver.

Jacob Terlumun Emmanuel, Procurement Officer of the Chinese Company was equqlly arrested.

He said that items recovered included two articulated trucks and two buses loaded with stolen rail tracks and rail sleepers.

He said criminal elements have turned the Nigerian railway tracks that traverse some major cities and villages in Nasarawa State  route to Benue state to goldmines where they vandalise and cart away rail tracks and rail sleepers.