Introduction: Disputing Claims of Train Coach Theft
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has strongly refuted recent media reports suggesting that its train coaches were the target of theft in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
This response follows claims made by the Borno Police regarding the arrest of six suspects in connection with an alleged attempt to steal three train coaches from the Maiduguri railway terminus.
Borno Police’s Account of Suspected Theft
According to the Borno Commissioner of Police, Lawan Yusuf, the suspects were apprehended after authorities received a distress call reporting the attempted theft of the train coaches.
The primary suspect, Aliyu Mai Nasara, was reportedly caught coordinating the loading of three coaches onto trucks.
NRC’s Rebuttal and Explanation
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, categorically denied any train coach theft in Maiduguri.
Okhiria clarified that the individuals responsible for moving the coaches were NRC officials performing their duties in an official capacity.
He emphasized that the Borno Police command had been misinformed about the situation.
Furthermore, Okhiria elaborated that the coaches were in the process of being relocated to the NRC’s Running Shed in Jos, Plateau State.
This move was part of an essential overhaul process, aimed at restoring the coaches to operational condition.
NRC’s Nationwide Rail Mass Transit Efforts
The statement issued by the NRC also emphasized the Corporation’s commitment to extending Rail Mass Transit services throughout the country, indicating its dedication to expanding and enhancing railway transportation services in Nigeria.
The NRC’s response serves to correct and clarify the erroneous reports regarding train coach theft in Maiduguri, providing a more accurate account of the situation at hand.
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