The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said it arrested nine suspects for alleged vandalism in Zamfara State, adding that the suspects also attempted to bribe a district head and a village head.
Roofing sheets recovered by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps from some suspects in Zamfara State (Photo: Yusuf Ladan/Channels TV)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Zamfara State Command, has arrested nine suspects over the alleged vandalism and theft of roofing sheets at Tsageru Primary School in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
The command also arrested a 58-year-old chemist operator for alleged illegal dealings in cannabis, tramadol, diazepam and Exol 5 in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area.
The State Commandant, Sani Mustapha, disclosed this in a statement issued by the command’s Head of Public Relations, Assistant Superintendent of Corps I, Umar Mohammad, on Monday.
According to the statement, the school vandalism case was reported by the Educational Secretary of Tsafe Local Government Area, Abdulrahman Aliyu, through the NSCDC divisional corps office.
It said the first suspect, who hails from Tsageru village, was arrested on September 8, 2026, at about 3 p.m., and subsequently identified eight other alleged accomplices.
The statement said preliminary investigations established that the suspects allegedly conspired to remove roofing sheets from a three-classroom block at Tsageru Primary School between September 5 and the date of their arrest.
It added that the suspects confessed to the offence and admitted acting without the knowledge of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board, ZSUBEB.
The NSCDC said the suspects also attempted to bribe the district head, Sarkin Gabas Aliyu, and the village head, Magaji Kabiru Salisu, but the traditional leaders declined and advised them against the act.
The statement said the suspects claimed they intended to sell the roofing materials and use the proceeds to pay levies for access to farmlands during the cultivation season.
The estimated cost of damage to the vandalised school block was put at ₦4.5 million.
The second suspect was arrested at his shop in the Bakin Tasha area of Birnin Magaji on September 10, 2026, at about 11:30 p.m.
The NSCDC said a search of his premises led to the recovery of 112 packs of cannabis, 1,160 tablets of Exol 5, 14 sachets of tramadol and 133 tablets of diazepam.
It said the suspect, who had operated a medicine shop in Birnin Magaji for over 20 years, confessed to working with two accomplices identified as Yellow and Sadiq, who are still at large.
According to the command, the two alleged accomplices operate in Kaduna State and Malele village in Dansadau, Zamfara State.
The statement said the commandant had directed the immediate transfer of the suspect to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and necessary action.
The nine suspects arrested over the school vandalism, it added, would be arraigned before a competent court for prosecution.
The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to combating criminality, vandalism and other unlawful activities in Zamfara State, assuring that suspects would be subjected to investigation and brought to justice upon completion of the process.
