ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a former worker of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Isaac Zegbe, and three other suspects over the alleged vandalism and theft of electricity cables worth over N350 million.
The suspects were paraded on Monday at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, who represented the Commandant-General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi. According to the NSCDC, the suspects were arrested following a tip-off and weeks of surveillance by the Corps’ intelligence unit.
Afolabi said the syndicate had been operating for several months, targeting electricity installations in Abuja and its environs. He explained that the suspects specialised in vandalising transformers, cutting armoured cables, and selling them to scrap dealers and buyers in neighbouring states.
“The arrest of these suspects is a major breakthrough in our fight against vandalism of critical national infrastructure. The syndicate has been responsible for the theft of cables and other electricity equipment worth over N350 million, causing untold hardship to residents and businesses,” Afolabi stated.
He disclosed that the principal suspect, Isaac Zegbe, was a former employee of the AEDC who used his insider knowledge of the company’s operations to coordinate the criminal activities. He said Zegbe had been dismissed from the company in 2024 over allegations of misconduct, after which he allegedly recruited other accomplices to carry out the thefts.
“The suspect, being a former staff of AEDC, had access to information about the location of cables and transformers. He used that knowledge to plan and execute the thefts, often under the cover of darkness. His arrest, along with his accomplices, is a significant victory for the Corps,” Afolabi said.
The NSCDC spokesperson said items recovered from the suspects included armoured cables, transformer components, cutting tools, and a vehicle used in transporting the stolen items. He said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Afolabi also warned scrap dealers and members of the public against buying stolen electrical equipment, noting that anyone found culpable would be treated as an accomplice. He urged residents to report suspicious activities around electricity installations to the nearest NSCDC office or through the Corps’ emergency lines.
“The fight against vandalism is a collective responsibility. We call on all Nigerians to support the Corps by providing timely information that will lead to the arrest of criminals who are sabotaging our economy and causing hardship to innocent citizens,” he said.
The arrest of the suspects has been welcomed by the AEDC, which has repeatedly complained about the impact of vandalism on its operations. The company’s spokesperson said the theft of cables and transformers had cost it billions of naira in losses and had disrupted power supply to millions of customers.
“We commend the NSCDC for this breakthrough. We hope that the arrest and prosecution of these suspects will serve as a deterrent to others who are engaged in this nefarious activity,” the spokesperson said.
The NSCDC has intensified its crackdown on infrastructure vandalism across the country in recent months, arresting hundreds of suspects and recovering stolen items worth billions of naira. The Corps has also launched a nationwide campaign to sensitise the public on the dangers of vandalism and the need to protect critical national assets. For now, the arrest of Zegbe and his accomplices is a reminder that the fight against economic sabotage is far from over, and that the NSCDC will continue to pursue those who seek to undermine the nation’s infrastructure.
