The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Zamfara State Command, has arrested nine suspects over the vandalism and theft of roofing sheets at Tsageru Primary School in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
The Command also arrested a 58-year-old chemist operator for alleged illegal dealings in cannabis, tramadol, diazepam and Exol 5 in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area.
The State Commandant, Sani Mustapha, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by the Head of Public Relations, Assistant Superintendent of Corps I, Umar Mohammad.
According to the statement, the school vandalism case was reported by the Educational Secretary of Tsafe LGA, Abdulrahman Aliyu, through the NSCDC divisional office in Tsafe.
The Command said the first suspect, identified as Alhaji Haruna Amadu, 55, from Tsageru village, was arrested on September 8, 2026, at about 3 p.m., and subsequently identified eight other accomplices.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects conspired to remove roofing sheets from a three-classroom block at the primary school between September 5 and September 8.
The estimated cost of damage to the facility was put at N4.5 million.
The suspects reportedly confessed to the offence and admitted that they acted without the knowledge of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB).
The Corps added that the suspects also attempted to bribe the District Head, Sarkin Gabas Aliyu, and the Village Head, Magaji Kabiru Salisu, who rejected the offer.
According to the NSCDC, the suspects claimed they intended to sell the stolen roofing sheets to raise money to pay levies for access to farmland during the farming season.
In a separate operation on September 10 at about 11:30 p.m., operatives arrested Mr. Emmanuel Okonkwo, 58, at his shop in Bakin Tasha area of Birnin Magaji LGA.
Okonkwo, who claimed to have operated a chemist for over 20 years, was found with 112 wraps of cannabis, 1,160 tablets of Exol 5, 14 sachets of tramadol and 133 tablets of diazepam.
The suspect was said to have confessed to the crime and named two accomplices, identified as Yellow and Sadiq, who are currently at large.
The Commandant said the drug suspect has been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation, while the nine suspects arrested for vandalism will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
He reiterated the Command’s zero tolerance for vandalism, drug trafficking and other criminal activities, and vowed to protect critical national assets and public infrastructure in the state.
