The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) has recorded another major breakthrough in its fight against crime, arresting four suspects for illegal possession of firearms, gunrunning, kidnapping, and banditry.
In a separate operation, another suspect was nabbed for job racketeering and advanced fee fraud.
According to a statement signed by the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, CSC Babawale Zaid Afolabi, the arrests were part of the Corps’ ongoing efforts to combat economic sabotage and insecurity across the country.
During the operation, security operatives recovered a cache of weapons, including two automatic rifles with three magazines, one AK-47 rifle with 15 live rounds, one FN rifle with two live rounds and nine locally fabricated pistols.
Others are one live cartridge and a bayonet, and two sets of Nigerian Forestry Security Services uniforms.
The arrested suspects were identified as Umar Ibrahim (35), Nura Abubakar (20), and Mohammed Sule (20). They were apprehended at Ukoso Komva Ward in Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
During interrogation, the three men claimed they were tricked into the crime by a certain “Ali,” who was still at large. According to them, they were recruited to assist in the sale of firearms.
“They were, however, apprehended on their way to deliver it to the buyer,” the statement said.
In their separate confessions, the suspects pleaded for leniency and warned others against engaging in similar criminal activities.
In another operation, security operatives arrested Lar Changkur, a volunteer with the Nigerian Forestry Security Services, in Bauchi State for his alleged involvement in gunrunning. The NSCDC spokesman said, like the others, he also begged for mercy and urged others to shun criminality.
The NSCDC’s crackdown also led to the arrest of 62-year-old Felix Clerkson in Nasarawa Eggon, for job racketeering and fraud.
During the investigation, over 120 fake NSCDC appointment letters were recovered from him. Clerkson reportedly defrauded desperate job seekers of at least ₦26 million, promising them employment in the NSCDC. However, further findings revealed that the total amount defrauded could be as high as ₦55 million.
“Our ongoing investigation, however, revealed that the suspect has swindled his victims to the tune of fifty-five million naira (₦55,000,000), part of which he shared with his accomplices who are currently at large but are being trailed by our men,” the statement added.
The NSCDC confirmed that all suspects “will be charged to court upon completion of investigations”.
“The CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, established under the Commandant General Ahmed Audi-led administration and headed by Commandant Dandaura Appollos, has continued to make significant strides in combating oil theft, illegal bunkering, power and telecommunication vandalism, railway vandalism, kidnapping, and banditry,” the statement concluded.
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