The Bauchi NSCDC command says it arrested eight suspects for allegedly vandalising railway slippers and petroleum pipelines.

NSCDC commandant Ileboye Olajide disclosed this while parading the suspects on Thursday in Bauchi. The suspects were also arrested for possessing counterfeiting currency notes.

Mr Olajide said that the suspects were of three categories of offenders apprehended in one week.

“We got information from our people on the field that some people were vandalising railway sleepers at Dangubi village, along Gombe road. We immediately moved to the area and caught them with the 33 already removed sleepers. The suspects involved were actually four; two were arrested while two are at large,” he said.

The NSCDC commandant said five of the suspects were involved in the vandalism of a petroleum pipeline at Kangere village on Gombe road in Bauchi LGA, saying that they were handed over to the command by the Nigerian Army artillery unit.

He listed the items recovered from them, which included four motorcycles, various 25-litre cans of petrol, and about 10 empty cans.

Mr Olajide said the suspects were caught while siphoning petroleum products, adding that they had confessed to the act. The commandant added that another suspect was arrested for possessing fake $2,000 in his house.

He said, “Information provided by a woman to whom he previously gave fake $100 led to his arrest.”

According to him, all the suspects will be handed over to relevant agencies after the investigation concludes for possible prosecution.

However, Mr Olajide warned those who considered vandalising national infrastructure in the state to think twice, as they would not go scot-free under his watch.

(NAN)