The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 20 persons for various offences, allegedly posing threats to national security.
The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja.
Afolabi said the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, acting on the directive of the Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, made the arrests between October and November as part of ongoing nationwide operations to curb criminal activities.
Giving a breakdown, Afolabi stated that eight suspects were arrested for kidnapping, armed robbery, and murder; two were identified as terrorists or militia members linked to recent communal attacks; five were held for trading in stolen goods; two were vandalism suspects connected to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company installations; and three were arrested for fraud and related offences.
The arrests, he said, were carried out across Abuja, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and Ondo States, demonstrating that “there is no hiding place for persons with criminal intentions in the country.”
Afolabi revealed that investigations uncovered a kidnap syndicate that killed two victims in Nasarawa after collecting ransom.
“One of the suspects confessed to participating in attacks in Yelwata community, Benue, and Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State,”
he said.
Recovered items included two AK-47 rifles, two G3 rifles, 65 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, a Toyota Corolla (2010 model) reportedly snatched at gunpoint, four motorcycles, electronics, cash, charms, and mobile phones.
Afolabi emphasised that the arrests underscore the corps’ commitment to clearing communities of criminal elements and ensuring public safety, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added that all suspects will be charged to court after investigations.
“We urge Nigerians to continue providing actionable intelligence to the NSCDC and other security agencies to help clamp down on criminal activities nationwide,”
Afolabi said.
Meanwhile, the NSCDC Kano State Command also confirmed the arrest of a suspected motorcycle thief and an illegal drug dealer in Kumbotso Local Government Area, according to its spokesperson, Ibrahim Abdullahi.
Abdullahi said the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence linking them to theft and illicit drug trade in Sabuwar Jiddah and Sabon Titin Dorayi communities.
