Nigeria Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Firms Over Alleged Multi-Billion Naira Railway Theft Ring

Nigeria's security forces have launched a major crackdown on economic sabotage, sealing all facilities of Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) accuses the Chinese-linked companies of dismantling and recycling stolen railway infrastructure, a crime described as economic sabotage and terrorism financing.

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The Corps disclosed that it had secured comprehensive court orders authorising the immediate sealing of the companies’ headquarters, branches and subsidiaries nationwide as investigations intensify into allegations of infrastructure theft, economic sabotage and terrorism financing.

The NSCDC secured court orders to close the companies' headquarters, branches, and subsidiaries nationwide. Operatives recovered large quantities of railway sleepers and tracks allegedly removed from national rail corridors at a facility in Kaduna State. These recovered materials have been handed over to the Nigerian Railway Corporation as exhibits.

Preliminary investigations suggest a sophisticated logistics network was used to transport vandalized railway materials from across the country to the companies' facilities. Workers' confessions reportedly indicate that stolen components were melted down and converted into commercial steel products like roofing sheets and nails at facilities in Abia and Zamfara states.

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Suspects linked to the syndicate are facing grave criminal allegations, including conspiracy to commit felony, theft, destruction of railway infrastructure, obstruction of railway operations, concealment of stolen property and providing support for terrorist activities.

Security sources view the operation as a significant breakthrough in combating organized economic crimes that threaten Nigeria's infrastructure and national security. Chinese nationals linked to the companies' management have been summoned as investigations intensify into allegations of conspiracy, theft, destruction of infrastructure, and support for terrorist activities.

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Confessions allegedly obtained from arrested workers revealed that stolen railway components were routinely moved to the companies’ headquarters in Aba and other branches where they were converted into roofing sheets, nails and other steel products for commercial distribution.