The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has rescued 15 trafficked children, recovered stolen service rifles and dismantled an alleged inter-state telecommunications infrastructure vandalism network in a series of intelligence-led operations across the country.
The operations, conducted by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), also led to the arrest of serving NSCDC personnel allegedly involved in the diversion and sale of service firearms.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.
Afolabi said the operations were carried out as part of the zero-tolerance policy of the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, towards crime, corruption and the destruction of critical national assets.
15 children rescued from trafficking syndicate
According to the statement, the CG’s SIS began investigating a petition concerning missing children in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and uncovered a trafficking syndicate allegedly led by one Anderson Archibong.
Archibong was accused of posing as an official of a non-governmental organisation operating a “Back to School Project” under the National Council of Child Rights Advocate to lure and defraud low-income parents.
The NSCDC said 16 children were fraudulently taken in January 2026 and allegedly sold across the country for N2m each.
Following intelligence-led operations along various transit routes, operatives rescued 15 of the children in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other eastern transit corridors.
Three alleged buyers identified as Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus were arrested and reportedly confessed to their involvement, while efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining child.
NSCDC officers arrested over arms diversion
In a separate investigation into a missing firearm at the NSCDC National Headquarters, operatives arrested CAII Igah Ameh James, a serving officer attached to the CG’s Crack Squad.
The Corps said investigations revealed that James allegedly stole an assigned AK-47 rifle, Bridge No. 02028, deserted his duty post and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State.
He allegedly sold the rifle to a middleman, Abakpa Simon Anthony, for N700,000, who subsequently resold it to an alleged illicit arms buyer, Sunday Akor, also known as IBB, for N800,000.
The operatives recovered the rifle and two empty magazines during the investigation.
In a related case at the Adamawa State Command, an armoury inventory audit led to the arrest of ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface B. Lawyer.
The NSCDC alleged that between 2018 and 2024, Ardo unlawfully removed two unserviceable G3 service rifles, with breach numbers 10S838 and 69112944, and sold them to Lawyer for N210,000 and N220,000 respectively.
Lawyer allegedly resold the weapons to a civilian.
The Corps further alleged that Ardo altered physical inventory registers to conceal the removal of the firearms and evade detection during routine checks.
Both suspects are currently in custody after allegedly making confessional statements.
Telecom vandalism syndicate uncovered
The CG’s SIS also dismantled an alleged telecommunications infrastructure vandalism network operating across Delta and Kano states.
According to the statement, operatives arrested Henry Dennis while allegedly vandalising and possessing 12 telecom panels removed from an IHS tower site in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
Further investigation reportedly uncovered a wider network involving a scrap market owner and alleged financier, Yusuf Musa, who was accused of financing the theft of telecom components and reselling them.
The NSCDC said financial tracing revealed suspicious transactions routed through digital payment platforms, while legal processes were ongoing to obtain search and arrest warrants for other members of the syndicate who remain at large.
Commending the CG’s SIS for what he described as tactical coordination and operational efficiency, Audi said internal administrative and disciplinary proceedings against the implicated personnel had been concluded.
He also directed the NSCDC Directorate of Legal Services to commence prosecution of the arrested suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction.
The Corps reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens, securing critical national infrastructure and ensuring accountability and integrity among its personnel.
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