The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has summoned Chinese nationals linked to Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd over alleged railway infrastructure theft and ordered the sealing of the firms’ facilities nationwide.
The NSCDC said the action followed the uncovering of what it described as a “highly sophisticated syndicate” involved in vandalising critical national infrastructure.
In a statement on Monday by the National Public Relations Officer of the corps, Afolabi Babawale, the NSCDC said it secured a comprehensive court order to seal all branches of the companies across the country.
According to him, suspects linked to the syndicate are facing allegations bordering on conspiracy, theft, destruction of railway infrastructure, concealment of stolen property, and alleged financing of terrorism.
The statement read, “Following the recent exposure of a highly sophisticated syndicate systematically vandalising Nigeria’s critical infrastructure, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has secured a comprehensive court order to seal all branches of Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd nationwide.”
He added that operatives of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, armed with search warrants and court orders, stormed the firm’s facility at Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Babawale said recovered railway sleepers and tracks were being transferred to the Nigerian Railway Corporation as exhibits for prosecution.
“Confessions from arrested staff revealed a coordinated logistics network where vandalised national infrastructure was routinely moved to the company’s headquarters in Aba and other branches for melting.
“The stolen steel was subsequently recycled into commercial products such as nails and roofing sheets,” he said.
Babawale stated the closure and investigation orders had been extended to the companies’ headquarters located at Ahala Ukwa Village, Umuahala Community, Obuzor Ukwu in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, as well as another facility in Tasha Rawayyah, Gusau, Zamfara State.
He added that all other branches and subsidiaries nationwide were also affected by the order.
According to him, the Chinese nationals involved in the companies’ management had been formally summoned but had not yet appeared before investigators.
“The Chinese nationals involved in the management of the complex have been formally summoned by the NSCDC but have yet to appear before investigators,” the statement said.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, directed operatives handling the case to maintain professionalism throughout the investigation.
“Every single suspect found culpable in this bleeding of our nation’s commonwealth will face the full wrath of the law. The NSCDC remains fiercely committed to reducing infrastructure vandalism to the absolute minimum,” Audi was quoted as saying.
The corps also commended the judiciary for granting the legal instruments used in the operation and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to aid efforts against infrastructure vandalism.
