The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has rescued 15 trafficked minors and recovered rifles. The corps also said it had dismantled an interstate telecommunications infrastructure vandalism network.
In a statement, NSDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, said the operations were carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad under the zero-tolerance policy on crime, corruption and asset destruction.
According to him, the operatives investigated a petition regarding missing children in Kokona LGA, Nasarawa State, uncovering a syndicate led by one Anderson Archibong.
“Archibong masqueraded as an NGO official running a ‘Back to School Project’ under the ‘National Council of Child Rights Advocate’ to defraud low-income parents,” Afolabi said.
According to the statement, in January 2026, 16 children were fraudulently taken and sold across the country for N2,000,000 per child.
It said that through intelligence-led operations across transit routes, 15 of the 16 children were successfully rescued in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states, as well as other eastern transit corridors.
“Three buyers, Joy Julius, Ngozi, and Eze Lazarus were arrested and confessed to the crime, while efforts continue to track the remaining minor,” the statement said.
Regarding internal security and illegal arms diversion within the NSCDC, the statement disclosed that squad operatives investigating a missing firearm at the National Headquarters arrested CAII Igah Ameh James, a serving officer attached to the CG’s Crack Squad.
“Investigations revealed that James stole an assigned AK-47 rifle (Bridge No. 02028), deserted his post, and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State. James sold the firearm to a middleman, Abakpa Simon Anthony, for N700,000, who subsequently resold it to an illicit buyer, Sunday Akor (aka IBB), for N800,000,” the statement said.
The operatives apprehended the suspects and recovered the rifle alongside two empty magazines.
In a related armoury investigation at the Adamawa State Command, an inventory audit led to the arrest of ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface B. Lawyer.
Between 2018 and 2024, Ardo allegedly removed two unserviceable G3 service rifles, with breach numbers 10S838 and 69112944, and sold them to Lawyer for N210,000 and N220,000 respectively.
Lawyer allegedly resold the rifles to a civilian.
“To evade detection during routine checks, Ardo systematically altered physical inventory registers. Both suspects are in custody following full confessions,” it said.
The statement further disclosed that the Special Intelligence Squad also dismantled a syndicate targeting telecommunications infrastructure across Delta and Kano states.
A suspect, Henry Dennis, was caught red-handed with 12 vandalised telecommunications panels from an IHS tower site in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
The NSCDC added that investigations exposed a broader network involving a scrap market owner and financier, Yusuf Musa, who allegedly funded theft operations and resold stolen components.
