Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Police have arrested a 36-year-old man, Shobande Taofeek, over vandalism and theft of railway infrastructure in the Arigbajo area of Ogun State, recovering 16 railway iron rods and two gas cylinders suspected to have been stolen.
The suspect was arrested on October 23, 2026, by operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics unit following intelligence reports about the theft and destruction of railway materials in the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday, explaining that officers intensified surveillance and patrols before apprehending the suspect.
According to the statement, the recovered items were found in an uncompleted building after the suspect allegedly led operatives to the location.
“Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested Shobande Taofeek, ‘m’, aged 36, over the alleged vandalisation and theft of railway infrastructure in the Arigbajo axis of Ogun State.
“The operation led to the recovery of 16 railway iron rods and two gas cylinders.
“The arrest followed intelligence gathered about the vandalisation and theft of railway materials. On 23 October 2026, SWAT operatives intensified surveillance and patrols in the affected area, leading to the suspect’s arrest. He subsequently led the operatives to an uncompleted building where the stolen items were recovered as exhibits,” the statement said.
Babaseyi added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had confessed to participating in similar offences on three previous occasions.
Police said efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects linked to the railway infrastructure vandalism and recover additional stolen property.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting public assets, securing critical infrastructure and prosecuting those responsible for economic sabotage.
Ojajuni also urged residents to provide credible and timely information to assist crime prevention efforts and improve security across Ogun State.
