The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested nine suspects over the alleged vandalism and theft of roofing zinc from Tsageru Primary School in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The suspects allegedly removed roofing sheets from three classrooms, causing damage estimated at N4.5m.
The NSCDC Zamfara Command Head of Public Relations, ASC Umar Muhammad, disclosed this at a news briefing in Gusau on Monday.
Muhammad said the case followed a report by the Education Secretary of Tsafe Local Government Area, Abdulrahman Aliyu.
He said operatives arrested the first suspect, 55-year-old Alhaji Haruna Amadu of Tsageru village, at about 3:02pm on September 8.
According to him, Amadu subsequently named eight other alleged accomplices, leading to their arrest.
The suspects were identified as Aliyu Aliyu, 40; Isah Umar, 40; Hassan Shehu, 35; Garba Ibrahim, 60; Ibrahim Lawali, 55; Abdullahi Usman, 35; Abubakar Ibrahim, 45; and Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, 40.
The command said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly conspired between September 5 and 8 to remove roofing zinc from three classrooms without the consent of the Zamfara Universal Basic Education Board.
Muhammad said the suspects also admitted attempting to bribe two traditional rulers, identified as the District Head, Sarkin Gabas Aliyu, and the Village Head, Magaji Kabiru Salisu.
He said both traditional rulers rejected the alleged bribe and warned the suspects against the act.
The suspects reportedly told investigators that they intended to sell the roofing zinc and use the proceeds to pay levies for access to farmlands during the cultivation period.
In a separate operation, NSCDC operatives arrested 58-year-old Emmanuel Okonkwo at his shop in the Bakin Tasha area of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area.
Okonkwo, who reportedly claimed to have operated a chemist for more than 20 years, was allegedly arrested for dealing in illicit drugs.
The command said he confessed to working with two alleged accomplices identified as Yellow and Sadiq, who are currently at large.
A total of 112 wraps of cannabis were reportedly recovered from him.
The state commandant, CC Sani Mustapha, directed that Okonkwo be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
The nine suspects in the school vandalism case will be arraigned before a competent court for prosecution, according to the command.
The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to combating criminality and economic sabotage and protecting public infrastructure across Zamfara State.
