By Temidayo Odobi 

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, has arrested two private security guards for allegedly stealing and selling air conditioners belonging to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The suspects, identified as Peter Jacob, 36, and Oluwatosin Oluwafemi, 29, were apprehended following a surveillance operation conducted by operatives of the command.

According to a statement issued on Monday by SC Daniel Aidamenbor, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Peter Jacob, a security guard with Crown Security Network, was arrested on June 14 while allegedly in possession of an air conditioner belonging to the petroleum regulatory agency.

The statement said Jacob, who was deployed to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), confessed during interrogation and implicated Oluwatosin Oluwafemi, a security guard employed by Global Security Networks, as his accomplice.

“During interrogation, Peter Jacob confessed to the crime and named Oluwatosin Oluwafemi, male, 29 years, a private security guard with Global Security Networks, as his accomplice. Oluwatosin Oluwafemi also confessed to stealing the air conditioner in conjunction with Peter Jacob,” the statement said.

Preliminary investigations by the NSCDC revealed that the affected government facility had recently replaced its old air conditioning units with new ones, while the removed units were kept within the office premises pending further disposal.

Investigators discovered that the stored air conditioners became the target of the suspects, who allegedly carted away and sold several of the units without authorisation.
“At the time of arrest, five air conditioner sets had already been stolen and sold,” the command disclosed.

The NSCDC said the suspects are currently in custody and have provided useful information to aid ongoing investigations aimed at uncovering the full scope of the operation.

The command added that efforts were underway to apprehend other suspected members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen property.

Speaking on the development, the State Commandant, Oluyemi Joshua Ibiloye, reiterated the agency’s commitment to protecting lives, property and critical national assets across Ondo State.

Ibiloye warned that the command would not relent in its fight against criminal activities, particularly crimes involving the sabotage of public infrastructure and government facilities.

He also called on private guard companies to strengthen their recruitment processes and maintain strict supervision of personnel deployed to sensitive locations.

“Private guard companies should ensure proper profiling and close monitoring of their personnel before recruitment and deployment,” the commandant advised.

The NSCDC further appealed to residents to support security agencies with credible and timely information, assuring that the command remains resolute in safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure throughout the state.