The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has paraded seven suspects arrested for offences ranging from the vandalism of critical national assets to theft and other criminal activities, saying sustained community engagement and intelligence gathering are yielding positive results in the fight against economic sabotage.

Speaking during the parade yesterday, the command’s spokesperson, Oluwaseun Abolurin, said the arrests were made through intelligence supplied by residents and security stakeholders across the state under the leadership of the Lagos State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro.

He said two suspects were arrested on June 27 at the Okun Ajah area for allegedly vandalising armoured cables worth millions of naira.

According to him, the command acted on intelligence received from the Okun Ajah community through Proton Security Limited, adding that the collaboration between the NSCDC, private security firms and other stakeholders enabled operatives to swiftly apprehend the suspects.

“The suspects were arrested after the vandalised cables had been loaded into a shuttle bus popularly known as ‘Korokpe’, with registration number MUS 109 YH, which has been impounded as an exhibit,” he said.

The spokesperson disclosed that preliminary investigations and confessional statements by the arrested suspects revealed that two other principal suspects involved in the operation were still at large.

“They can run, but they cannot hide. We are already on their trail and, with continued intelligence from the grassroots, we are confident they will be apprehended,” he said.

He added that the command also arrested suspects involved in the theft of eight lithium batteries stolen from Orchid Road, Lekki, on June 15, while another suspect was apprehended on June 26 for allegedly vandalising transformer cables in the Shogunle community in Oshodi.

According to him, a 44-year-old suspect arrested for allegedly stealing an RRU inverter is already being prosecuted, while investigations into the other cases are ongoing before the suspects are charged to court.

The NSCDC also disclosed that two deserters from the Togolese Army were among those arrested in separate operations across the state.

It said the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate security agency after the completion of preliminary investigations.

The command attributed the successes recorded to sustained community engagement with traditional rulers, youth groups, market associations, private security operators and other stakeholders.

It noted that the campaign had significantly strengthened intelligence gathering and helped curb the vandalism of critical infrastructure across Lagos.

The spokesperson lamented that attacks on public infrastructure had contributed to disruptions in electricity supply and telecommunications services, describing such acts as economic sabotage that negatively affect millions of Nigerians.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects, identified as Sonte Teima, a 27-year-old commercial driver from Benue State, denied participating in the vandalism, claiming he was only hired to transport the cables.

Teima told journalists that he believed the operation was legitimate because some of the men who engaged him were dressed in military uniforms.

“I am just the driver. When I saw the men in army uniforms, I believed they were doing legitimate work. There were about seven of them, including two wearing military uniforms. When security operatives arrived, those men fled, leaving us and the vehicle behind,” he said.

The suspect claimed he was unaware that the cables had been vandalised, insisting he was not present when they were cut.

“I told the officers to allow me to call the person who hired us so he could come and explain, but he never showed up. I know nothing about the vandalism. I was only engaged to transport the items,” he added.

The NSCDC said investigations were continuing to determine the level of involvement of each suspect and to apprehend other members of the syndicate before prosecution.