TheCable

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, has described the removal of some railway coaches from Maiduguri, the state capital, to other states as “suspicious and unfair”.

Zulum spoke on Tuesday when he visited the Maiduguri Railway Terminus.

On Saturday, the Borno police command said it arrested six persons over an attempt to steal three train coaches at the railway terminus.

Lawan Yusuf, Borno commissioner of police, said the suspects were arrested after a distress call about the attempted theft of the coaches.

However, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) debunked the claim.

The NRC said the coaches were officially being moved to NRC Running Shed Jos, Plateau state to be overhauled with the view of putting them back to operation.

On Sunday, residents of Maiduguri protested the removal of the coaches, accusing the NRC of trying to deny them of a train service.

Speaking on the development, Zulum said his government will follow all legal procedures to ensure that infrastructures meant for the state are not moved to other parts of the country.

Zulum said the state was not informed about the decision to move the coaches until residents intercepted them as they were being moved.

“About five months ago, some of the rail infrastructure were conveyed to other states of the federation without the knowledge of the security operatives and Borno Government,” he said.

“This time around the community raised alarm when they saw the movement of these rolling stocks from Maiduguri to other parts of the country.

“When we contacted the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, they said the rolling stocks would be moved to Jos for a complete overhaul and be dispatched elsewhere.”

Zulum said the decision to relocate the rail infrastructures was “crudely pursued” by the NRC.

“On this note, I want to announce that nobody will move out any of the rail infrastructures here in Borno without recourse to the rule of law,” he said.

“I urge you to remain calm and not to take the law into your hands.

“I want to, once again, note that these infrastructures will not be moved anywhere, insha’Allah, Borno is one of the states in Nigeria and we have equal rights.”

The governor noted that with the removal of railway management from the exclusive list, Borno would partner NRC to maximize benefits of rail transportation.