The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has leveled serious allegations against a local government chairman in Oyo State, accusing him of orchestrating the destruction of railway infrastructure valued at millions of naira in what the federal agency describes as a brazen attack on protected national assets.
In a strongly worded statement released Monday by the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the corporation named Hon. Kehinde Adeyemi Amanda, Chairman of Ibadan South-West Local Government, as the leader of a group that allegedly vandalized railway property along the Mile One–Ten axis on February 2.
According to the NRC’s account, the destruction unfolded in broad daylight along the railway’s statutory right-of-way, affecting critical infrastructure including rails, sleepers, signal poles, and perimeter fencing. The corporation characterized the incident as particularly troubling, given the composition of the alleged vandalism team.
“The destruction was carried out by the Chairman of the Ibadan South-West Local Government Council, Hon. Kehinde Adeyemi Amanda, who allegedly led a group comprising thugs, persons dressed in Nigerian Army uniforms, and operatives of Amotekun,” the statement read, referring to the regional security outfit established by southwestern states.
The presence of individuals in military uniforms and state security personnel raises questions about the authorization and scope of what the local government chairman claims was official government business. Amanda reportedly justified the action by stating he was following directives from the Oyo State Government, though the corporation’s statement does not indicate whether state authorities have confirmed or denied issuing such orders.
Perhaps most concerning for the federal agency was the inability of its own security apparatus to prevent the destruction. NRC disclosed that officers from the Railway Police Command attempted to intervene and protect the threatened infrastructure but were ultimately forced to stand down.
“The NRC Police Command’s attempts to repel the action were resisted, forcing the officers to withdraw,” the statement noted, highlighting the numerical and tactical disadvantage faced by railway security personnel confronted with what appeared to be a well-organized operation.
The corporation emphasized that the affected corridor enjoys statutory protection under federal law, making any unauthorized activity within the right-of-way a violation of national regulations governing railway operations and infrastructure.
In response to what it terms a “serious violation of federal property,” the NRC announced it is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to address the incident and prevent future occurrences.
“The corporation is taking security, administrative, and legal measures to protect its assets and railway workers,” Unyimadu stated, though specific details of these measures were not immediately disclosed.
The language suggests potential criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and enhanced security protocols may be forthcoming as the federal agency seeks to reassert control over its infrastructure and deter similar actions.
Monday’s incident, while notable for the alleged involvement of a government official, represents only the latest chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with railway vandalism and infrastructure theft.
The NRC has documented a pattern of asset destruction nationwide that has significantly impaired its ability to maintain reliable train services. In 2025, the corporation was forced to suspend operations on narrow-gauge lines traversing parts of Kaduna and Niger states, citing a toxic combination of insecurity, vandalism, and banditry that made safe railway operations impossible.
Oyo State itself has experienced previous episodes of railway theft, including the pilfering of E-clips and short rails from the aging narrow-gauge corridor—components that, while seemingly modest, are essential to track integrity and train safety.
Recognizing the severity of the vandalism problem, the NRC had implemented community-based prevention strategies in the region. The corporation partnered with local communities, traditional leaders, vigilante groups, and police forces to educate residents about the illegality of purchasing stolen railway materials and to create a network of eyes and ears along vulnerable corridors.
These efforts yielded measurable results. Several suspects were apprehended and transferred to the Railway Police Command in Lagos for prosecution. Dr. Kayode Opeifa, NRC Managing Director, had previously credited these collaborative measures with successfully halting new vandalism incidents on the Oyo State corridor.
The latest incident, however, suggests that when vandalism allegedly comes from within the government itself, community-based prevention programs may prove insufficient.
As this story develops, several critical questions remain unresolved:
Did the Oyo State Government actually authorize the demolition, and if so, under what legal authority? What was the intended purpose of removing railway infrastructure from a federally protected corridor? Why were individuals in military uniforms allegedly participating in what appears to be a civilian government operation? And what will be the consequences—if any—for a local government chairman accused of destroying federal property?
The NRC has made clear it intends to pursue accountability through all available channels. Whether those efforts will yield results in Nigeria’s complex intergovernmental landscape, where jurisdictional disputes and political considerations often complicate straightforward law enforcement, remains to be seen.
For now, the damaged rails, missing sleepers, and toppled signal poles stand as physical evidence of what federal authorities describe as an unprecedented assault on Nigeria’s struggling railway infrastructure—one they say was led not by common criminals, but by an elected official operating under the banner of government authority.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Nigerian Railway Corporation has accused Ibadan South-West Local Government Chairman, Hon. Kehinde Adeyemi Amanda, of leading the destruction of millions of naira worth of railway infrastructure on February 2, 2026.
Unlike typical vandalism by criminals, this incident allegedly involved a government official claiming to act on state orders, accompanied by thugs, individuals in military uniforms, and state security operatives. Railway police were overpowered and forced to withdraw.
