No fewer than nine persons suspected of involvement in a train ticket racketeering scheme were arrested in Abuja and Kaduna in a sting operation by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Operatives of the anti-graft agency, Abuja zonal office identified the five suspects who were arrested at Idu and Kubwa stations in Abuja on Saturday as: Clement Zakka, Udim Sunday Samson, Adams Danladi, Otitomoni Omobolanle and Hassan Dauda.
Three persons, including a staff and two touts were also arrested at the Rigasa station in Kaduna on Sunday. They will soon be charged to court.
In a statement by its spokesman, Tony Orilade, the EFCC said it swung into action after receiving an intelligence report alleging that some group of people at the Idu and Kubwa train stations had been racketeering train tickets making it difficult for passengers to have access to tickets and further sabotaging government efforts in ensuring easy transportation across the country.
In the same vein, operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Office of the EFCC, on Sunday, acting on intelligence report, also arrested ticket racketeers at the Rigasa Train Station.
According to the commission, “Investigations revealed that some members of staff of the station in connivance with some touts were defrauding unsuspecting travelers and selling train tickets at a higher rate. “For economy ticket of N1,300 /N1,500 they were selling at a rate of N2,000 to N5,000 and for First Class which goes for N2,500 was being sold for between N7,000 to N15,000.
The Station Manager, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parcel Booking Officer of the Kaduna Railway Station, according to the commission, have also been invited for questioning.
