The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said on Monday, 14 September 2026, that NSCDC nabs 13 suspects after operations by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger and Kaduna.

Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, spoke at a press parade at National Headquarters in Abuja and at a scene in Yangoji, Kwali Area Council.

Also read: NSCDC arrests nine over vandalism, seizes cannabis in Zamfara

The headline case is alleged damage to the power grid. Operatives named Isaac Zegbe, 25, a former employee of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, as a principal suspect.

The Corps says he and others vandalised more than 15 kilometres of aluminium conductors between Yangoji and Abaji, put at over ₦350 million, and that the metal later turned up with marketers.

A sting at Gudu Market recovered cables and led to the arrest of suspected receivers, including Chijoke Christian, who the Corps says admitted buying stolen material. Shops linked to those purchases are to be sealed under a court order.

Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi said the work was part of efforts “to safeguard Critical National Assets and Infrastructure and eradicate crime.”

He added that suspects would be charged “upon the conclusion of investigations and the establishment of a prima facie case against them.” Those remain allegations until a court decides.

The same briefing bundled other files. A four-man group accused of stealing Toyota vehicles was named as Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa, also called Yellow, and Abdulsalam Isa, also called Kada.

Four men accused of armed robbery, Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan and Ganpyal Dul, were said to have been found with an AK-47 rifle, serial number 3152097, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and ₦70,000. Bilyaminu Musa and Abba Yusuf were held over alleged cable theft inside Abuja.

Theophilus Oche Oboii was accused of taking 15 tractor batteries from the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Kwali and selling each for ₦20,000. Recoveries listed include a Toyota Camry registered YAB 163 EE, cut cables, batteries, keys, cutting tools, knives and a travel bag.

Separately, the squad said it had recovered Micaiah Nana, described as the last of 16 children allegedly taken by Archibong Anderson on 15 January 2026, and detained people said to have bought the child.

An earlier NSCDC account of the same syndicate said Anderson Archibong posed as a child-rights official running a “Back to School” scheme, that children were taken from poor families, and that 15 had already been found on eastern routes.

NAPTIP and FCT child-welfare officials have also investigated related missing-children reports from Benue communities. Those strands are serious. They are not, on the Corps’ own wording, finished prosecutions.

Cable theft is a familiar drain on Nigerian power lines, and insider knowledge is often alleged when a former utility worker is named. Parade days compress several investigations into one camera call, which can blur how strong each file is. What can be said now is narrower. Thirteen people have been shown to the press. A long stretch of conductor is said to be missing.