By our correspondent
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has ramped up efforts against infrastructure vandalism, apprehending 17 suspects in Yobe State for allegedly damaging electrical power installations, telecommunications masts, and other critical assets.
The operation was led by Commandant AS Dandaura of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS) under the directive of NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who has declared zero tolerance for acts of vandalism and economic sabotage.
Dandaura stated that the latest crackdown is part of a series of operations targeting telecommunications equipment, power transmission gadgets, rail infrastructure, and pipeline vandals.
Acting on intelligence reports, the team, according to him, raided three separate warehouses in Damaturu suspected to be storage sites for vandalized materials.
The first warehouse was said to have been uncovered at Pilgrim Nassarawa Bypass, the second at Dujiya behind New Market, and the third at Abari Bypass, all within Damaturu.
The operation, which lasted several hours, led to the arrest of 17 individuals at the crime scene.
The NSCDC has also launched a manhunt for the suspected kingpin, Aliyu Ajakuta, who is allegedly the chairman of the local Scrap Dealers Association.
The arrested suspects include Umar Saiadu (17), Mohammed Salisu (25), Ali Adam (18), Ibrahim Mohammed (19), Mohammed Musa (20), Abdulhamid Mohammed (15), Hassan Dauda (18), and Alhassan Yakubu (26).
Others are Mohammed Babagana (29), Mohammed Bashiru (18), Mohammed Bello (17), Adamu Abdullahi Usman (20), Mustapha Babagana (23), Tijani Bako (19), Bashiru Adam (18), and Lawal Salisu (19).
Recovered exhibits from the warehouses include telecom masts, Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), cabinet metal bags of armoured cables, large quantities of rail track slippers, solar panels, batteries, and ware pipes.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding national infrastructure, the NSCDC emphasized its unwavering resolve to combat vandalism and protect government assets.