CALABAR – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Cross River Command, has arrested two suspects for allegedly vandalising telecommunications assets in the state.
The Command’s spokesperson, Orok Kinini-Iyeme, disclosed this in statement in Calabar on Thursday.
Kinini-Iyeme said the breakthrough followed intense, intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of 24-year- old scrap metal dealer.
He explained that the suspect served as the primary receiver for stolen ATC Base Transceiver Station (BTS) equipment in the Odukpani Local Government axis of the state.
He also said that the arrest was made possible following an earlier arrest of the principal suspect, aged 23, on July 15, while attempting to vandalise an ATC BTS Facility (Site No. 630363 – CRO 165) at Odukpani Junction.
“During preliminary interrogations, the principal suspect confessed to actively stripping the telecom site and selling the stolen components to a local scrap dealer.
“Acting swiftly on this intelligence, the State Commandant, Okarazu Chima, directed the immediate deployment of a joint team comprising the Intelligence Department, CNAI operatives, and the Odukpani Divisional personnel.
“On July 18, 2026, the operatives successfully tracked and raided the receiver’s enclave at the Odukpani Flyover bridge, leading to his immediate arrest.
“During a thorough search of the receiver’s premises, operatives recovered a massive black metal radio mounting frame, measuring approximately 4ft 2 inches by 4ft 11 inches, which was explicitly identified as the stolen ATC facility component,” Kinini-Iyeme said.
According to Kinini-Iyeme, the receiver admitted to purchasing the items from the principal suspect on two separate occasions but claimed ignorance of their origin.
He said that the command was currently analysing statements from both suspects and has launched a massive tactical manhunt for fleeing members of the syndicate, including another receiver, as well as the syndicate’s primary financier.(NAN)
