₦350m Cable Heist: NSCDC Nabs 13 Suspects, Recovers AK-47, Cars

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has busted a sprawling criminal network allegedly involved in the vandalism of critical power infrastructure, car theft, armed robbery and human trafficking, arresting 3 suspects across the Federal Capital Territory and six other states.

The NSCDC revealed that in a major crackdown by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), it operatives recovered over 15 kilometres of vandalised aluminium conductors valued at more than ₦350 million, a Toyota Camry, an AK-47 rifle, 16 rounds of live ammunition, 15 tractor batteries and other items allegedly linked to the criminal activities.

The development was contained in a statement signed by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, ACC Babawale Afolabi, who said the arrests and recoveries followed intelligence-driven operations carried out across the FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger and Kaduna States.

According to the statement, one of the major breakthroughs was the arrest of 25-year-old Isaac Zegbe, a former employee of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), who allegedly masterminded the vandalism of more than 15 kilometres of aluminium conductors along the Yangoji-Abaji axis.

The statement further explained that the stolen cables, reportedly worth over ₦350 million were allegedly supplied to marketers across various markets in the FCT.

According to the statement, “Following a targeted operation at Gudu Market, our operatives recovered a significant quantity of vandalised electrical cables and arrested suspected receivers, including Chijoke Christian, allegedly confessed to knowingly purchasing the stolen materials.”

The Corps said it had secured a court order to seal the shops of merchants linked to the purchase of the stolen aluminium cables.

In another major breakthrough, the CG’s SIS also dismantled a suspected four-man car theft syndicate allegedly specialising in the theft of Toyota vehicles across the FCT and neighbouring states.

The suspects were identified as “Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa, alias “Yellow”, and Abdulsalam Isa, alias “Kada.”

Afolabi also stated that operatives of the squad also arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery gang identified as Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan and Ganpyal Dul.

Recovered from the suspects were an “AK-47 rifle, serial number 3152097, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition and ₦70,000 cash,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, in a human trafficking investigation, the NSCDC said its intelligence squad recovered Micaiah Nana, the last of 16 children allegedly trafficked by Archibong Anderson on January 15, 2026.

The Corps disclosed that the individuals who allegedly purchased the child had been detained and were assisting investigators with the ongoing investigation.