The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Kano’s state command, says it arrested 19 alleged vandals for allegedly manipulations with national assets and infrastructure critical in the state.
The state commander of the body, Mr. Bala Bawa-Bodinga, revealed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the headquarters of the command in Kano.
He said that arrests were part of sustained operations against vandals and other criminal elements that undermined the security of critical assets and infrastructure in the state.
Bawa-Bodinga explained that the suspects were arrested in the areas of the local government of Madobi, Tudunwada, Gwale, Minjibir and Kumbotso of the State after patrols and surveillance led by intelligence.
According to him, the suspects were arrested while participating in illegal activities, such as manipulating electrical installations, communication cables, drainage slabs, illegal substances and other public service companies.
“The arrest followed the credible intelligence and the rapid response from our area commands, division officers and the Department of National Critical Operations and Assets,” he said.
The exhibitions recovered from the suspects, he said, include; Aluminum rolls and armored cables that are worth tens of thousands of naira, 6.1 kg of transformer cables.
Other exhibitions are; Two rolls of sucking, a short spear, a rubber solution, a motorcycle, a broken welded iron, five blades, five excavators and a knife.
Bawa-Bodinga warned that the vandalism of public services was equivalent to the economic sabotage that endangered lives and hindered development.
He said that the NSCDC, as the main agency forced to protect national assets and infrastructure, would continue to be resolved in discharge of their duties.
“We will continue to strengthen intelligence compilation, intensifying patrols and collaborating with sisters security agencies, traditional rulers, interested parties of the community and the media,” he said.
The commander said that the suspects had been profiled, investigated and would be prosecuted in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent element for others.
He urged public members to provide timely and useful information to help the body stop crimes and safeguard the critical infrastructure in the state.
“The NSCDC will not give in its duty to protect lives, properties and infrastructure for peace and general development of the State,” added Bawa-Bodinga.