The Gombe State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended 22-year-old Abdulrahman Ali over the alleged theft and vandalism of an armoured cable providing power to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) depot in Gombe.
The suspect, who reportedly confessed to his involvement in the crime, pleaded for leniency, blaming his circumstances for his actions.
The state commandant, Mohammed Inuwa Usman, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists on recent breakthroughs recorded by the command in its fight against vandalism and other criminal activities.
According to the command, Ali, of Tudun Wada Pantami, Gombe, and another suspect who is still at large allegedly conspired to vandalise the cable along Bauchi Road at about 3am on October 16, 2026.
They allegedly sold the stolen cable for N100,000 and used the proceeds for personal purposes.
The command said Ali was arrested in Gombe while attempting to flee the state following intelligence gathered by its Department of Intelligence and Investigation.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted his involvement in the offence and appealed to the authorities for mercy, citing the circumstances that led him into the crime.
In a related development, the NSCDC said its anti-vandal unit, working with the Lubo Community Security Committee, recovered 968.4 metres of vandalised aluminium power transmission cables along the Lubo-Zambuk axis of Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
The cables were abandoned by suspected vandals who fled when they were intercepted at about 12:12am on October 12.
The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The commandant also disclosed the arrest of a 21-year-old man, Idris Mohammed, over the alleged killing of Usman Jibrin Isah in Kwami Gari, Kwami Local Government Area.
He said the incident occurred on September 12 following a minor misunderstanding between the suspect and the deceased at a park.
According to him, the deceased allegedly struck Mohammed with a stick during an exchange of words, prompting the suspect to stab him with a pair of scissors, resulting in his death.
The suspect was apprehended by NSCDC personnel.
Usman said investigations into the cases were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged before a competent court upon their conclusion.
He reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure and safeguarding lives and property across the state.
What You Should Know
Vandalism of critical national infrastructure like power cables at petroleum depots poses a serious threat to energy supply and public safety in the country. The arrest highlights ongoing security efforts to protect government installations, though it also points to underlying socioeconomic challenges driving youth involvement in crime.
- Positive Impact: Swift security action helps deter criminal elements and safeguards vital economic assets from destruction.
- Potential Concerns: Attacks on energy infrastructure can cause disruptions, financial losses, and increased maintenance costs for critical facilities.
