The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Zamfara State has arrested nine suspects over the alleged vandalism of a
primary school and apprehended a 58-year-old chemist operator for alleged
illegal possession and distribution of cannabis and other controlled drugs.
The State Commandant, Sani Mustapha, disclosed this in
a statement issued on Monday by the command’s Head of Public Relations,
Assistant Superintendent of Corps I, Umar Mohammad.
According to the statement, the school vandalism case
was reported by the Educational Secretary of Tsafe Local Government Area,
Abdulrahman Aliyu, through the NSCDC divisional corps office.
The command said its operatives arrested the first
suspect, a resident of Tsageru village, on September 8, 2026, at about 3 p.m.
During preliminary investigations, the suspect allegedly identified eight other
individuals believed to have been involved in the crime.
The NSCDC said investigations revealed that the
suspects allegedly conspired to remove roofing sheets from a three-classroom
block at Tsageru Primary School between September 5 and the date of their
arrest.
The suspects reportedly confessed to the offence and
admitted that the removal of the roofing materials was carried out without the
authorisation of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB).
The command further alleged that the suspects
attempted to bribe the district head, Sarkin Gabas Aliyu, and the village head,
Magaji Kabiru Salisu. However, the traditional leaders reportedly rejected the
offer and warned them against proceeding with the act.
The suspects allegedly told investigators that they
planned to sell the stolen roofing materials and use the proceeds to pay levies
required to access farmland during the cultivation season.
The NSCDC estimated the damage caused to the school
building at approximately ?4.5 million.
In a separate operation, the command arrested a
58-year-old chemist operator at his shop in the Bakin Tasha area of Birnin
Magaji Local Government Area.
The suspect was arrested on September 10, 2026, at
about 11:30 p.m., following intelligence on alleged illegal dealings in
controlled substances.
A search of his premises reportedly resulted in the
recovery of 112 packs of cannabis, 1,160 tablets of Exol 5, 14 sachets of
tramadol and 133 tablets of diazepam.
The NSCDC said the suspect, who had operated a
medicine shop in Birnin Magaji for more than two decades, allegedly confessed
to working with two accomplices known as Yellow and Sadiq.
The two alleged accomplices are reportedly still at
large and are believed to operate in Kaduna State and Malele village in
Dansadau, Zamfara State.
The commandant directed that the 58-year-old suspect
be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further
investigation and appropriate legal action.
Meanwhile, the nine suspects arrested in connection
with the school vandalism are expected to be arraigned before a competent court
after the completion of preliminary investigations.
The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to tackling
vandalism, drug-related offences and other forms of criminality across Zamfara
State.
The command also assured residents that suspects would
be subjected to due process and prosecuted where sufficient evidence is
established.
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