The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gombe State Command, has arrested a 22-year-old man, Abdulrahman Ali, for allegedly vandalising an armoured cable supplying electricity 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 9684 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