The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has apprehended a 17-member gang for allegedly killing a personnel of the corps on January 12.

The NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, said in a statement on Monday in Abuja that the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad apprehended the gang in collaboration with sister agencies.

Mr Babawale said members of the high-profile syndicate had been on the watchlist of the corps and the Tantita Security Service. 

He said the suspects had earlier attacked a base shared by the corps and Tantita Security Service.

According to him, during the attack, an assistant superintendent of NSCDC was shot dead while a speed boat and firearms were stolen.

Mr Babawale stated that the syndicate was involved in the hostile attack on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region.

The corps spokesman said preliminary investigations had revealed that the gang was responsible for the attack on the residence of the Petroleum Minister,  Heineken Lokpobiri, on January 1.

He said the investigation was ongoing, and the suspects would soon be arraigned in court.

Mr Babawale said an AK47 rifle, empty magazines, military uniforms, and boots, among others, were recovered from the gang.

He commended NSCDC’s commandant-general, Ahmed Audi, for providing the logistics that enabled the squad to carry out the operation.

“The commandant-general’s support has enabled the corps to be effective and alive to its role of tackling illegal bunkering and other criminal activities,” he said.

(NAN)