The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested nine men for allegedly vandalising and stealing roofing zinc from three classrooms at Tsageru Primary School in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State to raise money to pay levies for access to farmlands.
The suspects allegedly removed the roofing sheets between September 5 and 8 without the consent of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB), causing an estimated N4.5m damage to the school.
The NSCDC Head of Public Relations in Zamfara, ASC Umar Muhammad, disclosed this at a news briefing in Gusau on Monday.
Muhammad said the case began after the Education Secretary of Tsafe Local Government Area, Mr Abdulrahman Aliyu, reported the incident to the corps.
He said operatives, acting on the report, arrested one of the suspects, Alhaji Haruna Amadu, 55, of Tsageru Village, at about 3:02 p.m. on September 8.
According to him, Amadu named eight other alleged accomplices involved in the vandalism.
The other suspects were identified as Aliyu Aliyu, 40, Isah Umar, 40, Hassan Shehu, 35, Garba Ibrahim, 60, Ibrahim Lawali, 55, Abdullahi Usman, 35; Abubakar Ibrahim, 45, and Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, 40.
Muhammad said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to remove the roofing zinc from three classrooms at the school.
He added that all nine suspects confessed to the alleged crime and admitted attempting to bribe the District Head, Sarkin Gabas Aliyu, and the Village Head, Magaji Kabiru Salisu.
The traditional rulers, however, rejected the alleged bribe and warned the suspects against proceeding with the act, he said.
The suspects also allegedly admitted that they carried out the vandalism without the consent of ZSUBEB.
According to the NSCDC, they told investigators that they intended to sell the roofing sheets and use the proceeds to pay levies required for access to farmlands during the cultivation period.
The command estimated the damage to the three affected classrooms at N4.5m.
Muhammad said the nine suspects would be arraigned before a competent court for prosecution.
In a separate operation in Zamfara, NSCDC operatives arrested a 58-year-old chemist operator, Emmanuel Okonkwo, over alleged drug dealing.
Muhammad said Okonkwo was arrested at about 11:30 p.m. on September 10 at his shop in the Bakin Tasha area of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area.
The suspect, who reportedly claimed to have operated a chemist for more than 20 years, allegedly confessed to dealing in hard drugs in conspiracy with two other suspects identified as Yellow and Sadiq, who are currently at large.
The command said 112 wraps of cannabis, also known as marijuana, were recovered from him.
The NSCDC State Commandant, CC Sani Mustapha, directed that Okonkwo be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the NSCDC Osun Command has arrested three suspects over the alleged theft and sale of electrical cables in Agbona Village, Iwo Local Government Area of the state.
The Commandant of the corps in Osun, Mr Toma Enya, disclosed this while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Osogbo on Monday.
The suspects were identified as Taliatu Olunlade, 60, Wasiu Olunlade, 25, and Ganiyu Ayomide, 22.
Enya said they were arrested on September 4 following investigations into the disappearance of electrical cables stored in the community.
He explained that the cables had been temporarily removed in November 2025 to allow road construction activities in Agbona Village, following an arrangement between the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and community leaders.
The cables were subsequently packaged and kept at a location close to the residence of Taliatu Olunlade.
The commandant said the cables allegedly began disappearing gradually after several months, prompting discreet investigations by the corps.
According to him, further investigation revealed that the cables were allegedly removed in bits and sold to a metal scrap dealer identified as Aminu, who is currently at large.
Enya said the suspects confessed to selling the stolen cables to Aminu for N150,000.
He said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the alleged receiver, while the three suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
Enya warned individuals involved in the vandalism, theft or illegal trading of critical national assets and infrastructure to desist from such activities.
He urged residents to provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities involving the theft, vandalism or illegal sale of electrical cables and other critical national assets.
The NSCDC reiterated its zero tolerance for criminality and economic sabotage, pledging to continue protecting public infrastructure and taking action against individuals involved in criminal activities.
