The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has rescued 15 trafficked children and uncovered officers linked to the diversion of firearms in separate investigations across Nigeria.
The operations, carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, followed investigations into child trafficking, arms diversion, and vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure under the Corps’ zero-tolerance policy on crime, corruption and destruction of national assets.
In Nasarawa State, the squad uncovered a child-trafficking syndicate after investigating a petition over missing children in Kokona Local Government Area.
Investigators identified Anderson Archibong as the alleged leader of the operation. He reportedly posed as an official of an NGO conducting a “Back to School Project” under the “National Council of Child Rights Advocate” to lure low-income parents.
The investigation showed that 16 children were taken in January 2026 and allegedly sold across the country for ₦2 million each.
Intelligence operations along transit routes led to the rescue of 15 of the children in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other eastern transit corridors.
Three alleged buyers, identified as Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus, were arrested and reportedly confessed to the crime. The search for the remaining child is ongoing.
The squad also uncovered the alleged diversion and sale of an AK-47 rifle assigned to a serving NSCDC officer at the Corps’ National Headquarters.
CAII Igah Ameh James, attached to the CG’s Crack Squad, was arrested during the investigation into the missing firearm.
The Corps said the investigation established that James allegedly took the AK-47 rifle, marked Bridge No. 02028, deserted his post and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State.
He allegedly sold it to Abakpa Simon Anthony for ₦700,000, while Anthony reportedly resold it to an illicit buyer, Sunday Akor, also known as IBB, for ₦800,000.
Operatives recovered the rifle and two empty magazines following the arrests.
A separate armoury investigation in Adamawa State also led to the arrest of ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface B. Lawyer.
The Corps said Ardo removed two unserviceable G3 service rifles between 2018 and 2024 and sold them to Lawyer for ₦210,000 and ₦220,000 respectively.
The rifles, identified by Breach Nos. 10S838 and 69112944, were allegedly resold to a civilian.
Investigators further found that Ardo altered physical inventory registers to conceal the removal of the weapons during routine checks.
Both suspects, the Corps said, are in custody after making full confessions.
In another operation involving telecommunications infrastructure, the squad dismantled a suspected vandalism network operating across Delta and Kano states.
Henry Dennis was reportedly arrested with 12 vandalised telecommunications panels allegedly removed from an IHS tower site in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
Further investigation allegedly linked the suspect to a wider network involving Yusuf Musa, a scrap market owner and financier accused of funding the theft of telecom components and reselling the stolen materials.
The investigation also traced suspected illicit transactions through digital payment platforms, with the Corps seeking search and arrest warrants for members of the network who are still at large.
The Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, commended the CG’s SIS for its handling of the investigations.
The Corps said internal administrative and disciplinary proceedings involving the implicated personnel had been concluded, while its Directorate of Legal Services had been directed to commence prosecution of the arrested suspects in courts of competent jurisdiction.
The NSCDC said it would continue to focus on protecting vulnerable citizens, securing critical national infrastructure and maintaining integrity among its personnel.