By Becky Momodu
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested serving officers over the alleged theft and illegal sale of service rifles in separate investigations at its National Headquarters and Adamawa State Command.
The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) as part of efforts to enforce the Corps’ zero-tolerance policy on crime, corruption and the diversion of government assets.
The National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, in a separate armoury investigation in Adamawa State, the Corps arrested ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface B. Lawyer over the alleged illegal removal and sale of two unserviceable G3 service rifles.
The NSCDC said investigations showed that between 2018 and 2024, Ardo allegedly removed the two rifles, identified by Breach Nos. 10S838 and 69112944, and sold them to Lawyer for ₦210,000 and ₦220,000 respectively.
Lawyer allegedly resold the weapons to a civilian.
The Corps further alleged that Ardo altered physical inventory registers to conceal the removal of the rifles and evade detection during routine armoury checks.
The two suspects are currently in custody and, according to the NSCDC, have made full confessions.
The Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, commended the CG’s SIS for its operational effectiveness and directed the Directorate of Legal Services to commence prosecution of all arrested suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction.
The NSCDC said the actions form part of its broader commitment to maintaining integrity within its ranks and preventing the diversion of arms and other government assets.