The Rivers State branch of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended the wife of an alleged pipeline vandal for being in possession of two homemade firearms.

This was contained in a statement by NSCDC Public Relations Officer, PRO, Babawale Afolabi on Saturday in Abuja.

According to the PRO, the Corps got an intelligence tip-off concerning some pipeline vandals residing at at Idia/Ogburu waterside settlement camp, located around a multinational company in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni; Onelga, Rivers.

He said that the operation by the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGs SIS) led to the arrest of the woman, Mrs Isaac, while other suspects including her husband are currently at large.

Afolabi said that the suspect confessed during interrogation that the firearms and incriminating exhibits found in the hut where she was apprehended belonged to her husband who had been in the illegal oil business for two years.

He added that items recovered from the site include two locally fabricated pistols, one generator, stainless steel saws, thread sealing tapes, spades and shovels.

Other recovered items included four different welding machines, drilling machines, vandalized wellhead valves of different sizes, cables, two functioning smartphones, four non-functional phones and one power bank.

“The suspect and all exhibits have been handed over to the Intelligence Department of the Rivers State Command for further investigation and possible prosecution,” the PRO added.

He cautioned citizens to desist from any act that could be of economic sabotage to the nation.

“Culprits would be made to face the wrath of the law hence the public is advised to engage in meaningful businesses and cooperate with the government,” he said.

Afolabi urged Nigerians to provide credible and timely information to security agencies when in doubt or suspicion of security activities within and around their domains.

He said that the Corps, being the lead agency in the protection of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, remains committed to ensure the safety of lives and property.