By Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
Borno state government has assured residents of the railway quarters in Maiduguri of the government’s commitment to preserving railway infrastructures.
The state’s deputy governor, Usman Umar Usman Kadafur stated this when he inspected the railway coaches intercepted by security agencies after a foiled attempt to steal the coaches.
He explained that the present administration under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is a people-centered government that responds to the yearnings of people at all times.
Usman Umar Kadafur assured residents that the state government will avert a recurrence by ensuring surveillance of government properties.
He equally commended the residents of the community for promptly alerting security agencies about the incident.
He noted that the federal government was working to restore the railway system in the country to ease transportation and create jobs.
The deputy governor also assured that the government will look into the concerns raised by occupants of the railway quarters concerning the use of some lodgings for illicit acts such as prostitution and other social vices.
Speaking earlier, the Village head of the community, Lawan Mala Modu Gaji appealed to the Borno state government to safeguard items in the facility.
Similarly, the Coordinator Community Child Protection Committee of the Railway Quarters Progressive Organization, Goni Baba Dikwa raised concerns that teenage and adolescent girls were at risk of falling into social vices if the government did not expedite action on the stoppage or demolition of these structures.
It could be recalled that the Borno State Police Command on Saturday averted the theft of some train coaches owned by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
Earlier on Saturday, a source confided in our correspondent that police officers, acting on a tip-off by good samaritans in the area, apprehended alleged thieves who tried to steal some train coaches at the Maiduguri Railway Terminus.
The source said, “A suspected theft of train coaches of the Nigerian Railway Corporation was foiled at the Maiduguri Railway Terminus following a tip-off by good samaritans. The suspects were also apprehended by the police.”
When contacted for confirmation, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mahmood Yakubu, denied knowledge of the incident but asked our correspondent to reach the regional manager for details.
The incident was however confirmed by the spokesperson for the Borno state police command, Sami Kamilu.
He said that the Police will arraign the six suspects for alleged burglary and theft.
He added that six suspects had been arrested.
