NSCDC Arrests Ex-AEDC Worker Zegbe, Others Over N350m Cable Theft

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a former employee of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Isaac Zegbe, and other suspects over the alleged vandalism and theft of electricity cables worth over N350m.
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Zegbe, 25, was arrested alongside his accomplices by operatives of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad during intelligence-driven operations across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger and Kaduna states.

The National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this on Monday during a press parade at the Corps’ national headquarters in Abuja and at the scene of the cable vandalism in Yangoji, Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

Afolabi said the suspects vandalised over 15 kilometres of aluminium conductors running from Yangoji to Abaji, with the stolen cables subsequently distributed to marketers in various markets across the FCT.

He said, “As part of ongoing operational successes to safeguard Critical National Assets and Infrastructure and eradicate crime, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested Isaac Zegbe, 25, a former employee of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, alongside his accomplices, who vandalised over 15 kilometres of aluminium conductors running from Yangoji to Abaji, valued at over N350m.”

Following a sting operation, the NSCDC also recovered a significant quantity of the vandalised cables at Gudu Market, Abuja, and arrested suspected receivers. One of the suspects, identified as Chijoke Christian, was alleged to have knowingly purchased the stolen cables.

Afolabi said the Corps had obtained a court order to seal the shops of merchants linked to the purchase of the stolen aluminium cables

“The stolen cables were subsequently distributed to marketers across several FCT markets. Following a targeted sting operation, NSCDC operatives recovered a significant volume of vandalised electrical cables at Gudu Market and arrested suspected receivers, including Chijoke Christian, who confessed to knowingly purchasing the stolen cables. The Corps has secured a court order to seal off the shops of all merchants linked to buying stolen aluminium cables”, Afolabi said.

He said the arrests formed part of the NSCDC’s ongoing efforts to protect critical national assets and infrastructure and curb criminal activities across the country.

The suspects were identified as Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa, also known as Yellow, and Abdulsalam Isa, aka Kada. He said operatives also arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery gang identified as Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan and Ganpyal Dul.

An AK-47 rifle with serial number 3152097, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition and N70,000 cash were recovered from the suspects. The NSCDC further disclosed that its operatives recovered Micaiah Nana, the last of 16 children allegedly trafficked by Archibong Anderson on January 15, 2026.

According to the Corps, the individuals who allegedly purchased the child had been arrested and were assisting investigators.

Other suspects arrested included Bilyaminu Musa and Abba Yusuf, who were accused of vandalising power cables in the Abuja city centre, and Theophilus Oche Oboii, who was arrested over the alleged theft of 15 tractor batteries belonging to the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Kwali.

The NSCDC said the batteries were allegedly sold for N20,000 each.

NSCDC

Other items recovered during the operations included a stolen Toyota Camry with registration number YAB 163 EE, cut armoured electrical cables, 15 tractor batteries, master keys, cutting tools, knives and a stolen travel bag containing clothing.

Afolabi assured that the Corps would continue to deny criminal elements safe havens, adding that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

He said, “All suspects will be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations and the establishment of a prima facie case against them.”
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Nigeria Police Warn Against “Social Media Verdicts” on Rape Cases

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, has warned against the growing practice of reaching verdicts on rape allegations through social media before investigations are concluded or cases are determined by the courts.
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Babaseyi made the observation in a Tuesday statement examining the handling of rape allegations, the influence of social media on criminal cases and the treatment of men who report sexual violence.

He said social media had increasingly become a platform where allegations were judged before the police investigated them, evidence was examined or lawyers and courts had the opportunity to test the facts.

“The courtroom now has a competitor. It is called the internet. And sometimes, it is faster than justice. But speed is not the same as truth,” Babaseyi said.

According to him, rape was one of the gravest allegations a person could face and should therefore be treated with seriousness, sensitivity and proper investigation.

He stressed that an allegation should not automatically be treated as a conviction.

Babaseyi said social media could play a positive role by exposing issues that might otherwise remain hidden, encouraging victims to speak, raising public awareness and putting pressure on institutions to act on legitimate complaints.

However, he warned against treating social media posts, videos and screenshots as proof of guilt.

“A post can go viral without being verified, a video can create an impression without providing the complete context, and a screenshot can be genuine and still tell only part of a story, ” the PPRO said.

The police spokesman said investigators had a responsibility to establish facts rather than manufacture guilt or innocence.

He said police investigations involved receiving complaints, protecting complainants, identifying and interviewing relevant persons, preserving evidence, examining digital communications, considering medical or forensic evidence where available, tracing witnesses and testing competing accounts.

“The investigation must be willing to follow the evidence wherever it leads. That is what makes policing credible, not the ability to satisfy the crowd, but the courage to pursue the truth.”

Babaseyi also called for an end to the mockery of men who report rape, saying the gender of a victim should not determine whether their experience was taken seriously.

“A male victim is still a victim. His gender should not make his experience less believable,” Babaseyi said.

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He noted that Nigeria had different legal frameworks governing sexual offences, including the Criminal Code, Penal Code and Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, as well as applicable state laws.

According to him, while the Criminal Code and Penal Code contain provisions traditionally framing rape around male perpetrators and female victims, the VAPP Act uses broader language.

He argued that the Act’s reference to “another person” and “the other person does not consent” meant that men could also be victims of rape under the broader framework.

Babaseyi, however, noted that the applicable law depended on the jurisdiction and legislation in force.

“Rape is not a popularity contest. It is not a gender war, it is not a social-media referendum.”

The police spokesman also stressed that consent should not be assumed because of familiarity, a relationship or previous consensual sexual encounters.

“Knowing someone does not automatically mean consenting to sex.

“Being in a relationship does not automatically mean consenting to every sexual act. A previous consensual encounter does not create permanent consent,” Babaseyi said.

He said members of the public should be able to take allegations seriously without automatically declaring an accused person guilty.

“We can take an allegation seriously without declaring the accused guilty.

That is not contradiction, that is justice,” he said.

Babaseyi urged the public to focus on the truth rather than take sides based on personal preferences.

“Instead of asking: ‘Whose side are you on? Perhaps we should ask, whose side is the truth on?’”

He said justice required both compassion and due process, adding that victims should be protected without abandoning fairness to accused persons.

“Let us therefore create a society where a woman can say, ‘I was raped,’ without being silenced. Where a man can say the same without being mocked.

“Where the accused can say, ‘I am innocent,’ without being convicted by strangers.

Police

“And where the police can investigate without being forced to choose between compassion and impartiality,” Babaseyi advised.

Babaseyi concluded that justice should not be determined by which party the public preferred to believe.

“Because justice is not served when we simply choose the person we prefer to believe.

“Justice is served when we create enough room for the truth to survive the noise,” he said.
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Navy Uncovers 10,000 Litres of Suspected Illegally Refined AGO Stored for Onward Sale in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a warehouse containing approximately 10,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during an anti-crude oil theft operation around the Eleme Express area of Rivers State, exposing a suspected storage and distribution point within the illicit petroleum supply chain.
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The discovery was made by NNS PATHFINDER on 12 September 2026 during a patrol of the Eleme-Okrika-Onne general area. The product, contained in 400 jerrycans of 25 litres each, was suspected to have been sourced from locations outside the immediate community and stored for onward sale to buyers. No illegal refining site was identified at the location.

Beyond the volume recovered, the operation was significant because it disrupted a critical link in the illicit petroleum supply chain. The operation denied illicit operators a facility to accumulate and move illegally refined products to the market, thereby constraining the commercial network that sustains illegal refining activities.

Oil

The recovered products were subsequently handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures. No arrest was made as the suspected operators fled upon sighting the naval patrol team.

ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO

Navy Captain

Director Naval Information

Nigerian Navy
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