Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Edo State Command. Photo: NSCDC

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Jigawa State Command, has arrested four suspects for allegedly vandalising and stealing aluminium roofing sheets from the School of Nursing, Hadejia.

The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday, by operatives of the NSCDC Gandun Sarki Division during a routine surveillance operation aimed at protecting critical national assets and infrastructure.

Confirming the arrest in a statement issued on Wednesday in Dutse, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASC Badruddeen Tijjani, said the suspects were intercepted behind the perimeter fence of the School of Nursing, Hadejia.

“The suspects were intercepted during routine surveillance as part of the Corps’ mandate to safeguard Critical National Assets and Infrastructure,” he said.

Tijjani said the suspects were found with 13 square metres of aluminium roofing sheets suspected to have been removed from the ongoing renovation works at the institution.

“During the operation, the suspects were found in possession of thirteen square metres of aluminum roofing sheets suspected to have been removed from the ongoing renovation works at the institution,” the CDPRO said.

The NSCDC spokesperson identified the suspects as Adamu Mohd, 31, a security guard at the school and resident of Ramin Zaki Quarters, Hadejia; Dan Inu Mohd, 35, a carpenter from Gandun Sarki, Malam Madori Local Government Area; Isma’ila Adamu, 30, a tricycle rider from the same area; and Bashari Yahaya, 25, an apprentice also from Gandun Sarki.

According to Tijjani, preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects was part of the school’s security personnel, raising concerns about internal security gaps at the institution.

“This development has exposed a significant security lapse within the institution’s internal security architecture,” he said.

He added that the command had informed the management of the School of Nursing, Hadejia, about the identified weakness and advised it to strengthen its security system to prevent future incidents.

“The command has drawn the attention of the management to the identified security gap and advised the institution to strengthen its internal security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Commandant of the NSCDC, CC Muhammad Ingawa, reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to tackling vandalism and protecting public infrastructure across the state.

“The Corps remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure across Jigawa State,” Ingawa said through the CDPRO.

He warned individuals involved in vandalism and theft to desist, adding that the Corps would continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations.

“Individuals involved in vandalism, theft, and other acts of economic sabotage should desist. The Corps will continue to intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering, and enforcement operations to ensure offenders are brought to justice,” the Commandant warned.

The vandalism of public infrastructure has remained a recurring challenge in Nigeria, with critical facilities such as schools, hospitals, power installations and government buildings often targeted by criminals seeking to sell stolen materials for financial gain.

Security agencies have repeatedly warned that such acts not only cause economic losses but also disrupt public services and undermine development projects.