Usman during the briefing at the command headquaters in Gombe. Photo credit: Chima Azubuike
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Gombe State Command, has arrested a 22-year-old man, Abdulrahman Ali, over the alleged vandalism of an armoured cable supplying electricity to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited depot in Gombe.
The command also recovered 968.4 metres of aluminium power transmission conductor cables allegedly abandoned by suspected vandals in Lubo-Zambuk, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mohammed Usman, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists on the command’s recent operational successes in tackling vandalism and other criminal activities.
Usman said Ali, a resident of Tudun Wada, Pantami, Gombe, allegedly conspired with another suspect, who is currently at large, to vandalise the armoured cable along Bauchi Road, Gombe, on October 16, 2026.
According to him, the suspects sold the vandalised cable for N100,000 and used the proceeds for personal purposes.
“The suspect was arrested in Gombe while attempting to escape from the state, following credible intelligence from the Department of Intelligence and Investigation,” he said.
In a related operation, the commandant said operatives of the NSCDC Anti-Vandal Unit, working with the Lubo Community Security Committee, intercepted suspected vandals along the Lubo-Zambuk axis on October 12.
He said the suspects fled upon being intercepted, abandoning 968.4 metres of vandalised aluminium power transmission conductor cables.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” Usman said.
The commandant also disclosed that the corps had arrested a 21-year-old man, Idris Mohammed, over the alleged killing of Usman Jibrin Isah in Kwami Gari, Kwami Local Government Area.
He said the incident occurred on September 12, 2026, following a minor disagreement between the suspect and the deceased at a park in Kwami.
“During the exchange of words, the deceased struck the suspect with a stick, while the suspect allegedly stabbed him with a pair of scissors, leading to his death,” Usman said.
He added that NSCDC personnel apprehended the suspect immediately after the incident.
The commandant said investigations into the three cases were ongoing, adding that the suspects would be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction upon the conclusion of investigations.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as safeguarding lives and property across the state.
Earlier, the NSCDC, Kano State Command, recovered 50 stolen railway sleeper clips and arrested two suspects over the alleged theft and vandalism of railway materials in Kanwa Village, Madobi Local Government Area of the state.
The state commandant of the NSCDC, Mohammed Agalama, disclosed, “I welcome you to this briefing on the successful arrest of two suspects in connection with the suspected theft and vandalism of railway sleeper clips at Kanwa Village, Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State.”