The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has rescued 15 trafficked children, recovered three stolen service rifles and dismantled a syndicate allegedly involved in the vandalism and theft of telecommunications infrastructure in Delta and Kano states.
The breakthroughs were recorded by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) in a series of intelligence-led operations targeting child trafficking, illegal arms diversion, internal corruption and the destruction of critical national infrastructure.
The Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying the operations were conducted in line with Commandant General Prof. Ahmed Audi’s zero-tolerance policy on crime, corruption and the vandalism of national assets.
On child trafficking, Afolabi said the investigation began following a petition concerning missing children in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
According to him, operatives uncovered a syndicate allegedly led by Anderson Archibong, who reportedly posed as an official of an organisation operating a purported “Back to School Project” under the National Council of Child Rights Advocate.
Archibong was accused of exploiting low-income parents and trafficking their children to buyers in different parts of the country.
Afolabi said 16 children were fraudulently taken in January 2026 and allegedly sold for ₦2 million each.
“Through intelligence-led operations across transit routes, 15 of the 16 children were successfully rescued in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other eastern transit corridors,” he said.
Three alleged buyers — Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus — were arrested and reportedly confessed to their involvement, while efforts were continuing to locate the remaining child.
In a separate investigation into illegal arms diversion, CG’s SIS operatives traced a missing AK-47 rifle to a serving NSCDC officer attached to the Commandant General’s Crack Squad.
The officer, CAII Igah Ameh James, was allegedly found to have stolen an assigned AK-47 rifle, breach number 02028, abandoned his duty post and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State.
Investigators alleged that James sold the rifle to a middleman, Abakpa Simon Anthony, for ₦700,000, while Anthony subsequently sold it for ₦800,000 to an alleged illicit arms buyer, Sunday Akor, also known as IBB.
The rifle and two empty magazines were recovered following the arrest of the suspects.
The Corps also uncovered a separate arms-diversion case at its Adamawa State Command after an armoury inventory audit.
Afolabi said the investigation resulted in the arrest of ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface Lawyer.
Investigators alleged that between 2018 and 2024, Ardo removed two unserviceable G3 service rifles, bearing breach numbers 10S838 and 69112944, from the armoury and sold them to Lawyer for ₦210,000 and ₦220,000 respectively.
The weapons were subsequently allegedly resold to a civilian, while Ardo was accused of altering physical inventory registers to conceal their removal and evade detection during routine checks.
The two officers remained in custody after reportedly making confessions, the Corps said.
Meanwhile, the CG’s SIS has dismantled a network allegedly responsible for vandalising telecommunications infrastructure in Delta and Kano states.
Afolabi said operatives arrested Henry Dennis while he was allegedly vandalising an IHS telecommunications tower site in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, where 12 vandalised telecom panels were recovered.
Further investigation reportedly exposed a wider network allegedly involving a scrap-market owner and financier, Yusuf Musa, who was accused of financing the theft operations and facilitating the resale of stolen telecommunications components.
The Corps said financial tracing uncovered suspicious transactions conducted through digital payment platforms, with efforts ongoing to secure search and arrest warrants for other members of the syndicate still at large.
Commending the CG’s SIS, Commandant General Audi praised the squad for its tactical coordination and operational efficiency.
The NSCDC said internal administrative and disciplinary proceedings against implicated personnel had been concluded, while its Directorate of Legal Services had been directed to commence prosecution of the arrested suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction.
The Corps reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens, securing critical national infrastructure and upholding integrity, accountability and professionalism within its ranks.
