The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has detained some of its officers over alleged diversion and illegal sale of service firearms, including an AK-47 and two G3 rifles.
The development emerged from investigations conducted by the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), according to NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi.
Afolabi disclosed the cases while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday.
Officer allegedly sold AK-47 for N700,000
One of the cases involved an NSCDC officer attached to the corps’ headquarters, who was allegedly investigated and arrested by the CG’s SIS under the command of Commander Dandaura Appollos.
According to Afolabi, the officer allegedly failed to return his assigned AK-47 rifle to the armoury after completing his shift.
Investigators reportedly found that he concealed the firearm in two polythene bags, left his duty post without authorisation and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State.
The officer allegedly handed the rifle to another person under a prior arrangement for N700,000.
Buyer allegedly resold rifle for N800,000
The NSCDC said the person who received the firearm allegedly resold it to an illicit arms dealer identified as IBB for N800,000.
Afolabi further alleged that the principal suspect attempted to cover up the disappearance when questioned about the missing weapon. He reportedly tried to sign out another rifle.
The intelligence squad subsequently used surveillance, covert tracking and tactical interrogation to identify the suspects and recover the AK-47, according to the spokesperson.
Two G3 rifles allegedly diverted from Adamawa armoury
A separate investigation uncovered what the NSCDC described as an alleged systematic diversion of two G3 rifles from an armoury in the corps’ Adamawa Command.
The investigation reportedly focused on an officer who previously served as the head of armoury in the command.
The officer allegedly removed the rifles from the armoury without authorisation and sold them in separate transactions to junior personnel for N210,000 and N220,000.
Investigators further alleged that the firearms were subsequently sold to a civilian.
Armoury records allegedly manipulated
The NSCDC said the former armoury head allegedly attempted to conceal the missing weapons by manipulating weekly stock records.
According to the account provided by Afolabi, the officer allegedly altered the armoury register after physical checks had been conducted by his assistant.
The serial numbers of the missing rifles were reportedly handwritten into the records, allegedly creating the appearance that the weapons were still in the armoury.
The CG’s SIS eventually uncovered the alleged pattern and obtained statements and other evidence from key individuals involved in the investigation.
Legal action ordered against suspects
Afolabi said the cases demonstrate the NSCDC’s renewed focus on tightening firearm accountability and preventing service weapons from reaching criminal networks.
He added that internal disciplinary proceedings against the implicated officers had been completed.
NSCDC Commandant General Ahmed Audi has directed the corps’ Directorate of Legal Services to commence prosecution of suspects across the four cases in courts with appropriate jurisdiction, according to the spokesperson.
NSCDC intercepts telecom vandalism syndicate
In a separate operation, the CG’s SIS also intercepted an alleged telecommunication vandalism syndicate.
Afolabi said one suspect was arrested while allegedly attempting to remove 12 telecommunication panels that had been vandalised from an equipment cabinet.
The investigation reportedly indicated that the suspected vandalism and theft operation had been taking place over an extended period for financial gain.
Fleeing suspects targeted in Delta, Kano
The NSCDC Directorate of Legal Services is seeking a 60-day remand order, along with search and arrest warrants, to support efforts to locate other suspected members of the syndicate.
The fleeing suspects are reportedly being pursued in Delta and Kano states.
The NSCDC said the ongoing intelligence operations are part of broader efforts to strengthen internal accountability while disrupting criminal networks involved in arms diversion and critical-infrastructure vandalism.