Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gombe State Command, has arrested 16 suspects allegedly involved in a disturbing range of crimes, including rape, vandalism, theft, forgery, impersonation, and cattle rustling. The arrests, which were announced while parading the suspects before journalists in Gombe on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, highlight a troubling pattern of criminality that has gripped the state, from the sexual abuse of minors to large-scale livestock theft and infrastructure vandalism.
The Command's Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSC) Buhari Saad, who briefed journalists on behalf of the state commandant, Idris Jibrin, detailed the offences committed across different parts of the state. Among the most alarming cases were three separate incidents of sexual offences involving underage victims. The first suspect, 19-year-old Mohammed Nasir Usman of Hampati Wuro Brigi Bypass, Akko Local Government Area, was arrested for allegedly luring an eight-year-old girl to a primary school on August 3, 2026, where she was sexually abused. The second suspect, 64-year-old Malambaba Uru of Jakarta Ferry Ward, Gombe, was arrested for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl at his chemist shop in the Jakarta Ferry area on July 27, 2026. Uru was described as a repeat offender. The third suspect, 15-year-old Madala Matthias of Baganji, Kaltungo Local Government Area, was arrested for luring another eight-year-old girl to an isolated area and sexually abusing her on August 10, 2026.
Beyond the sexual offences, the NSCDC also arrested five suspects in connection with criminal conspiracy, vandalism, and theft. These included Habila Matthias, 30, and Mika Malangai, 25, both from Kaltungo Local Government Area. Malangai was allegedly found with an aluminium conductive wire and linked to the theft of a plug. In a separate case, three suspects—Awal Umar, 26; Hamza Usman, 23; and Yakubu Muhammad, 22—were arrested for conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery after being found in possession of NSCDC volunteer identity cards and uniforms.
The command also made significant arrests in connection with cattle rustling, a crime that has devastated rural communities in the state. Two suspects, Saleh Ibrahim Mel, 27, and another accomplice, were arrested for the alleged rustling of 13 cows from Taraba State. The NSCDC has vowed to prosecute all suspects and warned members of the public against impersonating its personnel. The arrests underscore the command's commitment to tackling a wide range of criminal activities across Gombe State, particularly those that threaten the safety of vulnerable populations and the economic stability of rural communities. As investigations continue, the community awaits the outcome of these cases, hoping for justice for the victims and a deterrent to future crimes.
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