NSCDC Arrests 39-Year-Old Telecom Vandalism Suspect

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has arrested a 39-year-old man, Anuba Chisom, over the alleged vandalism of an IHS-MTN telecommunications mast in Awka.

Chisom, from Amaputa, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, was arrested at about 4 a.m. on Thursday at Okpuno, near the temporary site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.

The NSCDC State Commandant, Olatunde Maku, disclosed this while parading the suspect at the command headquarters in Awka on Thursday.

Maku said the suspect was apprehended by the command’s anti-vandal operatives acting on credible intelligence.

According to him, the operatives acted on reports of unusual movement inside an IHS-MTN telecommunications mast with site number IHS_ANA_0888A, located in Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area, near Igwe Okpuno’s palace.

“The team swooped on the suspect and apprehended him at the scene with vandalised cables and other components of the mast,” Maku said.

He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect was linked to a syndicate allegedly responsible for the rising incidents of vandalism in the state.

The commandant further disclosed that Chisom had voluntarily confessed to vandalising two other telecommunications sites before his arrest, attributing his actions to unemployment.

Maku, however, warned that unemployment would not be accepted as an excuse for vandalising public infrastructure and other critical assets.

“Unemployment is not a licence for crime; we therefore warn all economic saboteurs and vandals to relocate from Anambra State, as the command will smoke them out and ensure they face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

He commended the operatives for the arrest and urged residents to provide timely and credible information to support the corps’ operations across the state.

The commandant subsequently directed that a thorough investigation be conducted, after which the suspect would be charged to court.

The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to protecting critical infrastructure against vandalism and other acts capable of disrupting essential services.