NSCDC Arrests 17 Suspected Vandals in Yobe
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Yobe State Command, has arrested 17 suspected vandals for their alleged involvement in vandalizing electrical power installations, telecommunications masts, and other infrastructure in the state.
AS Dandaura, Commander of the General’s Special Intelligence Squad confirmed the arrests to journalists in Damaturu, the state capital.
The arrests followed a clearance operation that led to the discovery of three warehouses at different locations.
Dandaura stated that a manhunt team has been deployed to apprehend the alleged kingpin, Aliyu Ajakuta, also known as the Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association in the area.
The individuals arrested were between the ages of 17 and 25.
Items recovered from the suspects include telecom mast components, Base Transceiver Station (BTS) equipment, bags of armored cable, large quantities of rail track sleepers, solar panels, and batteries.
Vandalism of public infrastructure in Nigeria has been a persistent issue, with several recent incidents highlighting its detrimental impact on the economy.
In 2023, there were multiple reports of vandalism targeting oil pipelines in the Niger Delta. For instance, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reported several cases of pipeline sabotage, leading to oil spills and shutdowns of production facilities. The NNPC estimated that Nigeria loses hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil per day due to pipeline vandalism, significantly reducing export earnings.
Similarly, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) expressed serious concerns over increasing incidents of vandalism to its electrical assets and installations across its franchise area. According to the company, these incidents have seriously impeded the company’s efforts to deliver a stable and reliable power supply to its esteemed customers
It is worthy of note that the Vandalism of oil pipelines and other critical infrastructure has led to significant revenue losses for the government. For example, Nigeria loses an estimated $1.5 billion annually due to oil theft and pipeline vandalism, according to the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). This loss directly impacts the country’s ability to fund public services and infrastructure projects.
