NSCDC Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Company, Arrests 12 Over Railway Track Vandalism

NSCDC Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Company, Arrests 12 Over Railway Track Vandalism

Kaduna, Nigeria – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sealed facilities belonging to a Chinese-linked steel company across the country following allegations of involvement in railway vandalism and the illegal recycling of critical national infrastructure . The enforcement action targeted Inner Galaxy Steel Company and other associated facilities after months of intelligence-led investigations linked the firm to the alleged handling, compression, and melting of vandalised railway materials .

The operation, which followed weeks of intensive surveillance, was triggered by a viral video on social media that showed extensive vandalism of the newly laid Kaduna-Kano railway tracks as well as older rail infrastructure across parts of Northern Nigeria . After the video circulated widely, the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi , directed the Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) , led by Commandant Apollos Dandaura, and the Kaduna State Command to identify and arrest those responsible for the economic sabotage.

Speaking on Sunday at the company’s premises in Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State , the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi , said the operation followed the arrest of suspects and the recovery of railway tracks and sleepers from the facility . Afolabi disclosed that the corps had obtained a court order and search warrant authorising the sealing of the premises and the preservation of recovered exhibits for prosecution by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) , which has since commended the NSCDC for its sustained crackdown on railway vandals.

According to Afolabi, preliminary findings from the investigation revealed a sophisticated criminal syndicate operating under the guise of legitimate business. Vandalised railway materials were allegedly transported to the company’s Kaduna facility, where they were compressed into scrap metal to conceal their original form. From Kaduna, the compressed materials were transported to the company’s head office in Aba, Abia State . There, the stolen national assets were allegedly melted down and recycled into products such as roofing sheets, nails, and iron rods , which were then sold back to the public. The NSCDC described this as a sophisticated local and international network engaging in economic sabotage.

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Afolabi added that the court order covered Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd , as well as other linked facilities in Abia and Zamfara states , including branches nationwide suspected to be connected to the case . The NSCDC confirmed that the enforcement operation has effectively shut down the company’s ability to continue processing stolen materials while investigations proceed.

The NSCDC has confirmed that 12 suspects are currently in custody in connection with the railway vandalism case . Those arrested from the Kaduna facility have been identified as Usman Hassan, 27 (company manager), Bilyaminu Usman, 30 (weighbridge operator), Choji John Pam, 40 (weighbridge officer), Jamilu Isah Jaafar, 37 (scrap collector), Chukwuemeka Udonwoke, 38 (supervisor), Chikwodilli Ezema, 29 (company manager), and Isaac Etim, 36 (scrap leader) . According to the corps, some of these suspects have allegedly confessed to their roles in the criminal network, providing valuable intelligence that is aiding the ongoing investigation.

The suspects are being investigated for alleged offences bordering on conspiracy to commit felony , intentional endangering of railway passengers , obstruction and destruction of railway infrastructure , theft , concealment of stolen property , and alleged financing of terrorism . The NSCDC stated that these charges reflect the severity of the crimes, which not only rob the nation of critical infrastructure but also endanger the lives of passengers who rely on the railway network for daily transportation.

Recovered exhibits from the company’s facilities include large quantities of vandalised railway tracks and sleepers , suspected NNPC and Water Board pipes valued at billions of naira, as well as specialised machines allegedly used for compressing and concealing the stolen materials . The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) , Dr. Kayode Opeifa , represented by NRC Chief Technical Officer Paul Doche, confirmed that NRC officials had visited the sealed facility and identified some of the corporation’s stolen materials. “We have gone round and identified some of our materials there. These are national assets,” Doche stated, adding that officials were still working to determine the full volume of recovered items because many remained buried under metal debris.

Afolabi also disclosed that Chinese nationals linked to the company have been summoned for questioning but were yet to appear before investigators . While the corps did not name the individuals, the summoning indicates that the investigation is reaching into the upper management levels of the company, and the NSCDC has made it clear that no one, regardless of nationality or status, will be shielded from prosecution if found culpable.

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“The facility will remain sealed pending the conclusion of investigations,” Afolabi stated firmly . He added that all recovered railway sleepers and tracks would be transferred to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as exhibits for prosecution, ensuring that the stolen assets are preserved as evidence in the impending legal proceedings.

In a related development, NSCDC operatives also arrested five additional suspects over the alleged vandalism of railway infrastructure along the Kaduna-Abuja corridor in Gwagwada community, Chikun Local Government Area . Items recovered from those suspects included railway tracks, railway sleepers, and gas cylinders allegedly used to cut and damage the rail infrastructure, further demonstrating the widespread nature of railway vandalism across the region.

The NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi , has directed the Special Intelligence Squad to ensure a thorough and professional investigation, stressing that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted regardless of their status or nationality . “Under this leadership, the NSCDC will not treat economic sabotage with kid gloves. We are going after the sponsors,” the Commandant General was quoted as saying. “This operation marks the beginning of a new phase in our crackdown on syndicates supporting vandalism under any disguise.”

Audi urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support efforts aimed at curbing vandalism and protecting critical national assets . He commended the judiciary for granting the court order that enabled the sealing operation and appreciated members of the media for supporting efforts to expose economic crimes and safeguard national assets.

This is not the first time a Chinese-linked steel company has been implicated in Nigeria’s railway vandalism crisis. In May 2021 , the Nasarawa State Police Command arrested Marra Thai , a Chinese national and manager of Yong Xing Steel Company in Tunga Maje, Abuja, for allegedly acting as a “criminal receiver” of stolen railway tracks and sleepers . That case also led to the arrest of a governor’s aide, two police officers, an NSCDC personnel, and a former supervisory councillor, highlighting the deep and persistent nature of the criminal networks targeting Nigeria’s railway infrastructure.

The destruction and theft of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure represent one of the gravest threats to national development and security. Across the nation, from the Warri-Itakpe line to the Abuja-Kaduna corridor , the Eastern and Western Districts, the Lagos-Ibadan railway, and throughout the Northern network, vandals systematically dismantle tracks, steal armoured cables, and pillage essential equipment. The NSCDC’s latest operation demonstrates a renewed commitment to dismantling the supply chains that make this vandalism profitable.

As of May 25, 2026 , Inner Galaxy Steel Company’s facilities across Nigeria remain sealed. The 12 arrested suspects are in NSCDC custody, and investigations are ongoing. Chinese nationals linked to the case have been summoned but have yet to appear before investigators. The NSCDC has stated that anyone found culpable will face prosecution in accordance with the law, sending a clear message that economic sabotage will not be tolerated.

NSCDC Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Company, Arrests 12 Over Railway Track Vandalism