The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State has arrested five suspects for allegedly vandalising and stealing transformer and streetlight cables in Ilorin.

The suspects — aged between 19 and 24 — were apprehended in the Tanke area around 1:00 a.m. during a joint operation involving NSCDC personnel and the Tanke Community Vigilante Group.

Security operatives reportedly intercepted the individuals with vandalised electrical cables believed to have been removed from public installations at Asa Dam and Sapati areas in Ilorin.

According to the NSCDC, items recovered include transformer cables, streetlight cables, and burnt copper wires. Preliminary investigations indicate a case of deliberate vandalism and theft of government electrical infrastructure, contrary to the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court after investigations are completed. Efforts are ongoing to arrest additional accomplices.

The Kwara NSCDC Commandant reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure in the state and warned against acts of vandalism, stating that offenders will face the full weight of the law.