Updated: No railway coaches stolen, NRC counters police

No railway coaches stolen, NRC counters police

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has dismissed a report that some of its coaches were stolen from Maiduguri, Borno State.

The Borno State Police Command on Saturday said it arrested six persons suspected to have stolen three train coaches.

Borno Commissioner of Police, Lawan Yusuf, said the suspects were arrested on Saturday after a distress call about the attempted theft of the train coaches.

He said one Aliyu Mai Nasara, the principal suspect, was accosted while coordinating the loading of the three coaches into trucks.

The report on Saturday went viral on many social media platforms.

But the NRC in a statement debunked the report, saying none of its coaches was stolen.

The statement released by Managing Director of the NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, said the coaches were being moved to Jos Running Shed in Plateau State for overhaul with a plan to return them to operation for maximum performance.

The NRC MD’s statement 

It stated, “The attention of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been drawn to a news (report) trending on numerous social media platforms purported to have emanated from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in which it was reported that attempt was made to steal NRC coaches from Maiduguri.

“NRC management wishes to clarify this as erroneous, stating that the said coaches are officially being moved to the NRC Running Shed Jos, Plateau State, to be overhauled, with a view to putting them back to operation.

“NRC is trying to extend Rail Mass Transit to all over the country.”