The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has busted a network of criminal syndicates operating across several states, rescuing 15 trafficked children, recovering stolen service rifles and arresting serving officers allegedly involved in arms diversion.
The operations, carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), also led to the dismantling of a telecommunications infrastructure vandalism network operating across Delta and Kano states.
The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued at the Corps’ national headquarters in Abuja.
He said the operations were conducted in line with the zero-tolerance policy of the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, on crime, corruption and the destruction of critical national assets.
15 children rescued from trafficking ring
The Corps said its investigation into missing children in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State uncovered a trafficking syndicate allegedly headed by one Anderson Archibong.
According to the NSCDC, Archibong allegedly posed as an official of a non-governmental organisation operating a purported “Back to School Project” under the name “National Council of Child Rights Advocate” to lure unsuspecting and economically disadvantaged parents.
The investigation revealed that 16 children were allegedly taken from their families in January 2026 and sold to buyers across the country for as much as N2 million per child.
Following intelligence-led operations along various transit routes, NSCDC operatives rescued 15 of the children in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other locations along the eastern transit corridor.
Three alleged buyers — Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus — were arrested and reportedly confessed to their involvement.
The Corps said efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining child.
NSCDC officer allegedly sells AK-47 for N700,000
In another major breakthrough, the CG’s SIS arrested a serving NSCDC officer, CAII Igah Ameh James, over the alleged theft and sale of an AK-47 rifle assigned to him.
James, who was attached to the CG’s Crack Squad, was allegedly found to have stolen the rifle, with Bridge No. 02028, before abandoning his duty post and transporting the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State.
Investigators said he subsequently sold the firearm to a middleman, Abakpa Simon Anthony, for N700,000.
Anthony allegedly resold the rifle to another suspect, identified as Sunday Akor, also known as IBB, for N800,000.
The operatives arrested the suspects and recovered the AK-47 rifle and two empty magazines.
Armoury officers implicated in G3 rifle diversion
The Corps also uncovered alleged arms diversion involving its Adamawa State Command.
An inventory audit reportedly led to the arrest of ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface B. Lawyer.
Investigators alleged that between 2018 and 2024, Ardo removed two unserviceable G3 service rifles from the armoury and sold them to Lawyer for N210,000 and N220,000 respectively.
Lawyer was subsequently alleged to have resold the weapons to a civilian.
The NSCDC said Ardo allegedly manipulated physical inventory registers to conceal the removal of the rifles and frustrate routine checks.
Both suspects are currently in custody after reportedly making full confessions.
Telecom vandalism syndicate smashed
Meanwhile, the CG’s SIS has dismantled another syndicate allegedly involved in the systematic vandalism and resale of telecommunications infrastructure.
The operation began in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, where operatives reportedly caught one Henry Dennis with 12 vandalised telecommunications panels allegedly removed from an IHS tower site.
Further investigation allegedly exposed a wider network involving a scrap market owner and financier, Yusuf Musa.
The NSCDC said Musa allegedly financed the theft of telecom components before arranging their resale through the scrap market.
Financial investigations also reportedly uncovered suspicious transactions allegedly linked to the syndicate and routed through digital payment platforms.
The Corps said legal processes were underway to obtain search and arrest warrants for members of the network who are still at large.
NSCDC vows to prosecute suspects
Commending the intelligence squad for what he described as its tactical coordination and operational efficiency, the Commandant General said the Corps would not tolerate criminality or corruption within its ranks.
The NSCDC said internal administrative and disciplinary proceedings involving the implicated personnel had been concluded.
It added that the Directorate of Legal Services had been directed to commence prosecution of all arrested suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction.
The Corps reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable Nigerians, securing critical national infrastructure and ensuring that personnel entrusted with public security do not abuse their positions for criminal gain.
