The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a former staff member of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and 12 others over their alleged involvement in the vandalism of electricity cables worth more than N350 million in Abuja.
The suspects were also arrested in connection with alleged car theft, armed robbery and human trafficking across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring states.
The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this during a parade at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja and at a crime scene in Yangoji, Kwali Area Council.
Afolabi said the arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) as part of efforts to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.
He said the operations covered the FCT and Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger and Kaduna states.
“One of the major suspects arrested is 25-year-old Isaac Zegbe, a former AEDC employee, who allegedly worked with his accomplices to vandalise more than 15 kilometres of aluminium conductors between Yangoji and Abaji.
“The vandalised cables were valued at more than N350 million and were later supplied to buyers in different markets across the FCT,” he said.
Following a sting operation, operatives recovered a large quantity of the vandalised cables at Gudu Market and arrested suspected receivers.
One of the suspects, identified as Chijoke Christian, allegedly admitted that he knowingly bought the stolen cables.
The Corps said it had obtained a court order to seal the shops of merchants linked to the purchase of the stolen aluminium cables.
The NSCDC also said its intelligence operations led to the arrest of a four-man syndicate allegedly involved in stealing Toyota vehicles across the FCT and neighbouring states.
The suspects were identified as Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa, also known as Yellow, and Abdulsalam Isa, alias Kada.
In another operation, operatives arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery gang identified as Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan and Ganpyal Dul.
The Corps said an AK-47 rifle, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and N70,000 cash were recovered from the suspects.
The NSCDC also reported a breakthrough in a human trafficking investigation following the recovery of Micaiah Nana, the last of 16 children allegedly trafficked by Archibong Anderson on January 15, 2026.
According to the Corps, the people who allegedly bought the child have been arrested and are assisting with the investigation.
Other suspects arrested included Bilyaminu Musa and Abba Yusuf, who were allegedly involved in power cable vandalism in Abuja city centre.
Another suspect, Theophilus Oche Oboii, was arrested over the alleged theft of 15 tractor batteries from the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Kwali. The batteries were reportedly sold for N20,000 each.
“Items recovered during the operations included a stolen Toyota Camry with registration number YAB 163 EE, cut armoured electrical cables, 15 tractor batteries, master keys, cutting tools, knives and a stolen travel bag containing clothes,” he added.
Afolabi said the NSCDC would continue to go after criminal networks involved in the theft and destruction of critical infrastructure.
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