Two staff members of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have been arrested by police in Ibadan, Oyo State, for the alleged assault of a university lecturer at a railway station.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at the Obafemi Awolowo Railway Station in Moniya, Ibadan. The victim, Dr. Mikail Abdulsalam, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Ibadan, was at the station to drop off his sister, who was traveling to Lagos by rail.
According to reports, NRC personnel confronted and assaulted Dr. Abdulsalam shortly after he stopped his vehicle. Despite reportedly remaining calm, he was harassed, beaten, and sustained various injuries. The matter was promptly reported to the Moniya Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
Police from the Moniya Division arrested two suspects on Wednesday. A third individual implicated in the assault is reported to have fled the scene. The Public Relations Officer for the Oyo State Police Command, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the arrests. “The suspects are in custody, two of them. The third suspect ran away,” CSP Ayanlade stated.
Dr. Abdulsalam confirmed the attack and that he had reported the matter to police. He stated he suffered physical injuries during the ordeal. The police have indicated that the investigation is ongoing.
This case highlights concerns over security and conduct at public transport hubs. The alleged assault on an academic figure at his place of work, even off-campus, has drawn attention to the need for strict adherence to professional standards by railway staff and robust mechanisms for accountability. The police investigation into the full circumstances and the pursuit of the fleeing suspect are the immediate next steps in the legal process. The Nigerian Railway Corporation has not yet issued a public statement regarding the conduct of its employees.
