The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, has arrested two suspected deserters from the Togolese Army, suspected cable vandals, battery thieves and an alleged inverter thief in separate operations across Lagos.
- +NSCDC arrests Togolese army deserters, cable vandals in Lagos
The suspects were paraded on Monday at the command headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
The suspects were paraded on Monday at the command headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
Speaking to journalists, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin, said the arrests were made following intelligence gathered from communities, private security operators and other security stakeholders.
On the arrest of the two suspected deserters from the Togolese Army, Abolurin said the operation followed intelligence provided by members of the public through community engagement.
He said, “The NSCDC Lagos State Command, relying on intelligence from the community as a result of consistent community engagement, also arrested two deserters from the Togolese Army.”
He added that the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“They have been apprehended, and a due diligence investigation is ongoing. They will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.
Furthermore, Abolurin said two suspected cable vandals were arrested on June 27 for allegedly vandalising armoured cables in the Okun Ajah area of Lagos, while two other suspects remain at large.
He said the operation was made possible through information received from a private security company.
“We got this information from Proton Security Limited, and because of the synergy between the NSCDC and private guard companies in Lagos State, as well as other security agencies and stakeholders, we were able to respond swiftly to the scene where we apprehended two suspects, while two others are currently at large,” he said.
He added that a shuttle bus with registration number MUS 109 YH and the allegedly vandalised armoured cables were recovered as exhibits.
“We want to say unequivocally to Lagosians that the two suspects who are at large can only run, but they cannot hide forever,” he said.
One of the suspects, 27-year-old Sontey Teihmah, claimed that he and others were paid N150,000 to transport the cables.
“They made a first payment of N150,000 to transport the cables,” he said.
Teihmah further alleged that the persons who engaged them included men wearing military camouflage and some civilians but fled when NSCDC operatives arrived.
“They wore Army camouflage. Two army men and five civilians paid us to carry the cables. They were with us, but once they came to arrest us, they ran away. We couldn’t run and leave our bus,” he alleged.
He also claimed that he offered to help investigators locate those who hired him.
“We asked them to handcuff us, and we would take them to the compound of the person who sent us on the job. They declined. I asked them to give me my phone to call the man named Abu to convince him to come,” he said.
In a separate operation, the command arrested suspects over the theft of eight lithium batteries from Orchid Road in Lekki.
Abolurin said the suspects were arrested on June 15 at about 4 p.m. following an intelligence-led operation.
“Investigation is ongoing, and we will ensure that we carry out due diligence for prosecution and possible conviction through the instrumentality of the court,” he said.
The NSCDC spokesman also disclosed the arrest of another suspect for allegedly vandalising transformer earthing cables in the Shogunle area of Oshodi on June 26.
He added that a 44-year-old man was separately arrested over the alleged theft of an inverter, a case he said is already before the court.
