Police Arrest Five Suspects Over Theft of NSCDC Rifles in Bayelsa State

Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested five individuals allegedly linked to the theft of two rifles belonging to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The stolen firearms were successfully recovered by the command’s tactical team, Operation Puff Adder.

The two rifles had gone missing from NSCDC officers who were on guard duty at the Airtel Office in Yenagoa. Following the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, issued a directive to Operation Puff Adder operatives to locate and recover the weapons, initiating an intensified search and intelligence gathering efforts across the state capital.

Those arrested in connection with the theft include Tijani Nuhu (23) from Kaduna State, Bello Mohammed (27) from Zamfara State, Ebi Collins (26) and Godspower James (37) both from Bayelsa State, and Happy Friday (25) from Edo State.

Police investigations revealed that Tijani Nuhu allegedly stole the rifles and concealed them in a dustbin at Yenezue-Epie in Yenagoa. He then reportedly contacted Happy Friday to find a buyer for the weapons. However, Friday later allegedly took the rifles from their hiding place and subsequently contacted one Ernest Lagos, alias “Five Stars,” who is based in Lagos, for the purpose of selling them. Vigilante groups, who were also engaged in the search, reportedly got wind of the alleged attempts by the suspects to sell the rifles for sums ranging between N40,000 and N200,000.

Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, confirmed the significant development, commending the operatives for their efforts in apprehending the suspects and recovering the stolen weapons. The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.