(NSCDC. Photo Credit: Sun Nigeria)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has rescued fifteen tr@fficked minors and recovered stolen rifles while dismantling an interstate telecommunications infrastructure vandalism network.
The operations were conducted by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad under a zero-tolerance policy on crime, corruption and asset destruction.
Operatives investigating a petition about missing children in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State uncovered a criminal syndicate led by Anderson Archibong.
Archibong posed as an NGO official running a “Back to School Project” under the name “National Council of Child Rights Advocate” to defraud low-income parents.
In January 2026, sixteen children were fraudulently taken and sold across the country for two million naira per child.
Through intelligence-led operations across transit routes, operatives successfully rescued fifteen of the sixteen children in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states as well as other eastern transit corridors.
Three buyers named Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus were arrested and confessed to the crime. Efforts continue to locate the remaining minor.
Internal investigations into security breaches and illegal arms diversion within the corps led to the arrest of CAII Igah Ameh James, a serving officer attached to the Commandant General’s Crack Squad.
Investigations revealed James stole an assigned AK-47 rifle, deserted his post and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State.
James sold the firearm to middleman Abakpa Simon Anthony for seven hundred thousand naira, who subsequently resold it to an illicit buyer, Sunday Akor, for eight hundred thousand naira.
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 and sold them to Lawyer for two hundred ten thousand naira and two hundred twenty thousand naira respectively.
Lawyer allegedly resold the rifles to a civilian.
To avoid detection during routine checks, Ardo systematically altered physical inventory registers.
Both suspects are in custody following full confessions.
The Special Intelligence Squad also dismantled a syndicate targeting telecommunications infrastructure across Delta and Kano states.
A suspect, Henry Dennis, was caught with twelve vandalised telecommunications panels from an IHS tower site in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
Investigations exposed a broader network involving a scrap market owner and financier, Yusuf Musa, who allegedly funded theft operations and resold stolen components.
