NSCDC Arrests 17 in Yobe for Vandalism
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)has arrested 17 suspects for their alleged involvement in vandalism of electrical power installations, telecommunications masts, and other offences in Yobe state.
The Commander of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad Commandant Apollo Dandaura and his men made the arrest, according to the spokesman of the NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Wednesday
He said Dandaura, narrating the ordeal and rigour encountered in unravelling the suspects’ hideout, hinted that the CG’s SIS acted upon the marching order of the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi, who has zero tolerance for all acts of vandalism of government utilities and economic sabotage.
Dandaura said the NSCDC has recently clamped down on Telecommunication equipment, Power Transmission Gadgets, Rail, and Pipeline Vandals.
He said: “Acting on the CG marching order, we raided three separate warehouses in Damaturu, Yobe State as we earlier gathered intelligence that there were storage Base for vandalised Telecom Masts, Power Transmission and Rail track gadgets within the crime scene”.
“The clearance operation which took hours led to the uncovering of three warehouses located at Pilgrim Nassarawa bye pass in Damaturu, another one at Dujiya behind new market while the 3rd warehouse was uncovered at Abari bypass also in Damaturu”.
“We have deployed a manhunt team to trail the kingpin named Aliyu Ajakuta who is also known as Chairman, Scrab Dealers Association in the area”.
“The following suspects were arrested at the scene: Umar Saiadu (M) 17years, Mohammed Salisu (M) 25 years, Ali Adam (M) 18 years, Ibrahim Mohammed (M) 19 years, Mohammed Musa (M) 20, Abdulhamid Mohammed (M) 15 years, Hassan Dauda (M) 18years, Alhassan Yakubu (M) 26, Mohammed Babagana (M) 29, Mohammed Bashiru 18 years, Mohammed Bello (M) 17years, Adamu Abdullahi Usman (M) 20, Mustapha Babagana (M) 23 years, Tijani Bako (M) 19 years Bashiru Adam (M) 18years and Lawal Salisu (M) 19 years”.
He disclosed that the following exhibits were recovered at the scene of the crime: “Telecom Mast, Base Transceiver station (BTS), Cabinet Metal bags of armoured cable, large quantities of Rail Track Slippers, large quantities of Solar panels, batteries, and ware pipes.”
He promised that the NSCDC, in its unwavering commitment to prosecuting its Corps Mandate of Safeguarding all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, would not be deterred in any way, “as we are poised to tackle the menace of vandalism of government Infrastructure without hesitation.”
