Man arrested for stealing lab equipment from Jigawa school

Friday, March, 13 2026 - The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State Command, has recorded another significant success under its Safe School supervision and security coordination initiative with the arrest of a suspected thief who attempted to steal laboratory equipment from a school facility in Dutse.

The public Relations Officer of the command, ASC Badruddeen Tijjani Mahmud, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

According to Mahmud, the suspect, Aliyu Musa, aged 22, of Zai Rankwace area in Dutse, Jigawa State, was apprehended by NSCDC personnel following a formal complaint lodged by the school authorities over the recurring theft of laboratory equipment and other valuables from the institution.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who is a former Labour Prefect of the school and graduated during the 2024 academic session, was arrested while attempting to cart away five microscopes from the school’s main laboratory,” the statement read.

"Further reports from the school management indicated that several laboratory items had earlier gone missing under suspicious circumstances. 

"The missing items include ten conical flasks, ten microscopes, one desiccation jar, ten laboratory lamps, two washing bottles, and two gas cylinders (6kg and 3kg respectively).

"The timely intervention of NSCDC operatives under the Safe School security arrangement played a critical role in preventing the continued vandalism and theft of vital educational facilities within the institution.

"The Jigawa State Commandant of the Corps reiterated that the Safe School initiative remains a strategic security framework aimed at protecting school environments, safeguarding critical educational infrastructure, and ensuring that students and staff operate in a safe and secure learning atmosphere across the state. 

"He emphasized that the Corps will continue to deploy personnel and strengthen surveillance around schools to prevent criminal activities capable of disrupting the education sector.

"The Command further warned individuals with criminal intentions to stay away from school facilities, stressing that the Corps will not hesitate to bring perpetrators to justice.

"The suspect has since been charged with the offences of criminal trespass and theft and has been arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution in accordance with the law.

"The NSCDC Jigawa State Command remains committed to working closely with school authorities, community stakeholders, and other security agencies to ensure that all educational institutions in the state remain safe, secure, and conducive for learning.