The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced major disciplinary and operational actions, including the sanctioning of 79 personnel for professional misconduct.

The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, said in a statement that the Corps had also arrested 12 suspects linked to critical infrastructure vandalism and illegal arms dealing.

According to the statement, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to institutional transparency, public safety, and zero tolerance for compromise.

It said that following investigations conducted under the Public Service Rules and NSCDC Conditions of Service, disciplinary proceedings were concluded for 75 personnel.

The affected officers include an Assistant Commandant General (ACG), two Deputy Commandants (DCs), 35 other senior officers, and 37 junior officers.

According to the statement, “Established infractions ranged from job racketeering, financial misconduct, theft, and absence without official leave, to acts prejudicial to state security. Sanctions applied include dismissal, compulsory retirement, and recommendation for criminal prosecution.”

The statement said among the concluded cases was the February 18, 2026, operational incident at Rafin Gabas, Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, which led to the death of Mining Marshals Location Commander Levi Agada.

It said investigations established that two personnel, Hosea Habila and Jibrin Labaran, engaged suspected illegal miners with firearms without authorisation. Both officers have been dismissed from the Service and recommended for criminal prosecution.

Additionally, four personnel are currently undergoing disciplinary proceedings handled by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS), with the joint effort of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, over alleged illegal arms dealing. They are facing both internal disciplinary action and legal prosecution.

The suspects are Superintendent Tesie Victor Nnamdi (Enugu State Command), Assistant Superintendent II Okwuruinya Uchenna (Ebonyi State Command), and Assistant Superintendent II Obaji Sampson (Ebonyi State Command).

Superintendent Achor Favour (Nasarawa State Command) is also undergoing administrative disciplinary proceedings following public concern over the alleged mistreatment and negligence of a teenage domestic helper, Mercy Hajara Muhammad.

In another development, nine suspects were arrested by the CG’S SIS at different locations in connection with related crimes across Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Niger States, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The names of the nine alleged illegal firearm and ammunition dealers were given as Friday Nnanna Ujor, 51; Chika Sampson Nwozaku, 48; Nnanna Ujor Chinasa, 45; Nnanna Fountain; Nnanna Abundant Ifechukwu; and three NSCDC officers: SC Tesie Victor Nnamdi, ASCI Okwuruinya Uchenna, and ASCI Obaji Sampson.

The Corps also said that, as part of efforts to protect critical national assets and infrastructure (CNAI), its operatives arrested six suspected vandals with a full trailer load of railway sleepers at Sabon Wuse on 25 July 2026.

The vandalised sleepers were concealed in a blue DAF trailer with registration number ZAR 618 XT.

Similarly, a two-man vandalism syndicate, Raphael Danjuma and Isaac Zegbe, from Toto and Basa Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, were arrested for alleged electrical and cable vandalism in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Corps emphasised that the actions of the sanctioned personnel do not reflect the integrity and dedication of the vast majority of NSCDC officers nationwide.

It added that all suspects and affected personnel retain their constitutional rights to due process as administrative and legal proceedings continue.

The NSCDC urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue sharing actionable intelligence to safeguard national security.

Barrister Amaechi Achi Onwuzor, counsel to suspected kidnappers standing trial over the alleged abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market and other kidnapping incidents in Benin City, has lamented the failure of some witnesses to appear before the court to testify.

DAILY POST reports that Barrister Amaechi expressed the concern while speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, after the close of the defence’s case.

Amaechi is counsel to three of the four suspects standing trial at the Special Court set up by the Edo State Government to handle cultism- and kidnapping-related cases in the state.

The special court is presided over by Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu.

Amaechi is counsel to Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; and Rufus Emete Michael, 30.

The other defendant is 27-year-old Miss Gift Raphael.

He said the absence of the witnesses is a setback to the fair and speedy determination of the case.

According to him, “We have rounded off our case today. We have entered and concluded our defence. Though we were supposed to have one or two witnesses, unfortunately, the witnesses were not ready to appear before the court.

“I am worried that the witnesses are not here because they would have been able to strengthen our case. We have a defence that, on the day of the alleged incident, our clients were not around. But unfortunately, they are not ready to come and give evidence.

“So, we leave it at that.

“They refused to appear before the court for their own personal reasons because we live in a society where everybody has the right to decide what to do. If they say they are not coming, there is nothing we can do. So, we have to go ahead with the case,” he said.

Earlier, at the resumed hearing of the case, the three defendants denied involvement in all the kidnapping allegations levelled against them, insisting that they are not kidnappers.

Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu, however, adjourned the case to Friday, August 7, 2026, to enable the fourth defendant to open her defence.

The adjournment followed an oral application by Barrister Felix Imasuen, counsel to the fourth defendant, Miss Gift Raphael, to enable him to have a pre-trial conference with her before the commencement of her defence.

He said the adjournment for the pre-trial conference was in the interest of justice.

The suspects, who allegedly abducted a woman at a vegetable market along Airport Road on June 14, 2026, in Benin City, are facing a 10-count charge bordering on cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command have recovered two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition from bandits in a recent operation.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, said the recovery followed an operation at the bandits’ hideout in Dajin Madam forest located between Plateau and Bauchi states.

The PPRO explained that the operation was part of a follow up investigation into the arrest of four suspects for supplying arms, ammunition and illicit substances to bandits.

According to her, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit conducted a follow-up operation on 2nd August, 2026, based on credible intelligence provided by one of the suspects in custody, Musbahu Ishaq.

She said the suspect led the operatives to Dajin Madam forest, where the criminal syndicate are suing as one of its hideouts.

Adeh said further investigation established that “Musbahu Ishaq obtained arms and ammunition from one Rabiu Hassan and supplied them to one Baba Alhaji Sanusi, a suspected bandit kingpin currently at large and believed to be hiding in a forest in Katsina State”.

“A thorough search of the hideout led to the recovery of two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition concealed within their hideout in the forest.

“Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the criminal syndicate currently at large, recover additional arms linked to the network, and charge all suspects to court,” she added.