By Mala Abdulazeez
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Yobe State Command, has arrested 17 suspected vandals for their alleged involvement in vandalizing electrical power installations, telecommunications masts, and other infrastructure in the state.
AS Dandaura, Commander of the General’s Special Intelligence Squad, confirmed the arrests to journalists in Damaturu, the state capital.
The arrests followed a clearance operation that led to the discovery of three warehouses at different locations.
Dandaura stated that a manhunt team has been deployed to apprehend the alleged kingpin, Aliyu Ajakuta, also known as the Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association in the area.
The individuals arrested during the clearance operation include: Umar Saiadu (17), Mohammed Salisu (25), Ali Adam (18), Ibrahim Mohammed (19), Mohammed Musa (20), Abdulhamid Mohammed (15), Hassan Dauda (18), Alhassan Yakubu (26), Mohammed Babagana (29), Mohammed Bashiru (18), Mohammed Bello (17), Adamu Abdullahi Usman (20), Mustapha Babagana (23), Tijani Bako (19), Bashiru Adam (18), and Lawal Salisu (19).
Items recovered from the suspects include: telecom mast components, Base Transceiver Station (BTS) equipment, bags of armored cable, large quantities of rail track sleepers, solar panels, and batteries.
