Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad have arrested 13 suspects for unlawful possession of explosives (dynamite), vandalism and illegal dealings in Petroleum products.
Other offences committed for which the suspects were nabbed included illegal dealing in arms and ammunition, vandalism of oil pipelines, attempted murder and criminal conspiracy as well as miscellaneous offences.
Parading the suspects before newsmen at the National Headquarters of the Corps at Sauka-Abuja, the Commandant General (CG) of the Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, disclosed that the arrests were made based on credible Intelligence.
Represented by the National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Chief Superintendent of the Corps, Babawale Afolabi, the CG expressed the commitment and resolve of the Corps to fight crimes in the country in synergy with sister agencies to the barest minimum and called on the public to support this effort.
The first 5-member group of suspects who are all male gave their names as Ayibadenyefa Julius, 32 years; Derekebuna Owo, 28 years; Preye Wolson 32 Years; Olofini Deseyei 29 Years; and John Samuel, age 32 years.
The suspects were arrested around Tebetaba Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State and the preliminary investigation revealed that they pretended to act as Private Security Guards but ended up carrying out their evil deeds.
Exhibits recovered from the 5-member suspects include 1 Explosive Dynamite, 1 Pumping Machine, 1 full park of Welding Electrode, 2 Spanners, 11 Bolts and knots and 5 Aprons tagged Dalon Security Services.
Another suspect Jibrin Abdullahi (M) 35 years was also nabbed by the NSCDC operatives with an iPhone 6s Pro owned by a Woman who was kidnapped on 10th January 2024 on her way from Deidei to Dupei behind Zuma Rock.
Among the exhibits recovered from the suspect are: 2 Packs of Phones, 1 White Charger, a Zenith Bank debit card, an Issuance letter, and five (5) Packs of SIM Cards: two (2) Glo with three (3) Airtel, among others.
Also, five other suspects who were involved in the sales of arms and ammunition to suspected bandits and kidnappers at Bagaji Road, Keffi, Nassarawa State were arrested.
According to Audi, investigations had uncovered that one of the suspects, John Ishaya is an ex-convict who led a robbery operation on 24th December, 2023.
He said the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad also acting on credible intelligence, arrested two suspects for vandalism and conveyance of rail track sleepers.
The suspects were caught with a trailer load of vandalized rail track sleepers and tracks concealed under the Sugarcane plot at Kwoi- kangaroo- Tafa- Jere Road in Kaduna State.
Names of the suspects were given as Richard Istifanus (M) 31 years and Usman Yusuf (M) 44 years who the Corps said would be charged in Court after a thorough investigation.
“We will dig deep to unravel and expose those sponsoring vandalism and trading of Railway Sleepers across the nation and when we apprehend them, we will bring them to book”, the CG vows.