The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) seizes four vehicles loaded with dismantled telecommunications tower components in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and arrests 10 suspects in a major security operation targeting critical infrastructure vandalism.
The operation takes place between December 8 and 10, 2025, following intelligence-led surveillance across key routes in the state, Mediaplusng.com reports. The suspects allegedly transport the telecom materials under the guise of scrap metal, in violation of an existing state ban on scavenging and scrap activities.
Borno State Commandant of the NSCDC, Ahmed Bello-Gaya, discloses the development while parading the seized vehicles, recovered items, and suspects at the command headquarters in Maiduguri. He says the action aligns with the directive of Governor Babagana Zulum, who banned scavenging and scrap metal trading over two years ago to protect public and private infrastructure.
According to Bello-Gaya, the ban remains in force due to its importance to state security, Mediaplusng.com reports. He explains that telecom towers are critical national assets, and their vandalism affects communication, emergency response, economic activities, and overall security operations in the state.
The commandant says preliminary investigations show that the suspects dismantle telecom facilities from remote locations and attempt to move the components out of the state disguised as scrap. He adds that such activities pose a serious threat to public safety, especially in a state recovering from years of insurgency.
Bello-Gaya warns that the NSCDC, in collaboration with other security agencies, will intensify monitoring of highways, scrap markets, and border communities to prevent further attacks on critical infrastructure. He stresses that anyone found sabotaging public assets will face the full weight of the law.
The NSCDC boss reiterates the Corps’ mandate to protect national infrastructure and notes that the command has increased patrols around telecom installations, power facilities, water infrastructure, and government assets across Borno State.
He also appeals to residents to support security agencies by providing timely information on suspicious movements or activities around public infrastructure. According to him, community cooperation remains vital in sustaining peace and preventing economic sabotage.
The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation. The NSCDC says they will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
The seizure underscores renewed efforts by security agencies in Borno State to enforce existing laws, protect critical infrastructure, and deter criminal networks involved in vandalism and illegal scrap trading.
