The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has apprehended 13 suspected vandals of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure worth over N5 million at various locations in FCT.
Speaking during the parade of the suspects, the FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu said:
“We have 13 suspects arrested in different parts of FCT between Saturday, September 7, and the early hours of Monday, September 9, following intense surveillance and patrol as well as tip-off.
“The intelligence personnel working with the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department combed various parts of the city and made the arrests,” he said
The suspects arrested and their various offences are: Bitrus Obadiah, male, 33 years from Obi Local Government of Nasarawa State and his counterpart, Girgi Msugh Peter, male, 32 years from Giwer Local Government Area of Benue State. They were both arrested by officers by 2am on Sunday, September 8 around Kukwaba 1 railways overhead bridge on Berger, Area 1 Expressway before the finance bridge, vandalising streetlight cables and billboards.
Auwal Umar, male, 42 years from Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State; Jacob Jibut, male, 39 years from Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State and Abdulfatai Aliyu, male, 22 years from Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State were caught in the act of vandalising armoured electrical cables along Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Opposite Wonderland around 3.30am of Sunday, September 8.
Timothy Maigida, male, 28 years from Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State was caught in the act of vandalising armoured cables at Mabushi Motorpark on Sunday, September 8, by the vigilant men on patrol.
Exhibits recovered are shovels, diggers and armoured cables. Upon interrogation , he also confessed to have committed the crime.
Williams Friday, male, 51 years from Ojo Local Government of Lagos State and Sunday Ezekiel, male, 27 years from Kabba Local Government of Kogi State were caught jumping the fence into Hilton Garden premises at Wuse Zone 5 around 4.30am on Saturday, September 7, by NSCDC men on patrol. They are suspected of having criminal intentions.
Lawal Harisu, male, 29 years, Sabuwa Local Government of Katsina State; Mohammed Yakubu male, 24 years from Dandume Local Government of Katsina State and Mohammed Zayyanu Auwal, male, 27 years from Chikum Local Government of Kaduna State were apprehended at 9.01pm on September 8, at Prince and Princess Estate vandalising iron rods from slabs.
Mohammed Kabiru, male, 26 years from Warri North Local Government of Delta State and Abubakar Mohammed, male, 24 years from Soba Local Government of Kaduna State were both apprehended under a flower shrub at Mabushi, around 2am September 9.
“They were caught holding laterite in their hands and were seen hiding from our men on patrol which was very suspicious. Having laterite in their hands at such an ungodly hour is an indication that they had dug something somewhere and were taking cover when they sighted men of the command,” a statement by NSCDC noted.
According to the statement, exhibits recovered from them include armoured cables, motorcycles (3), shovels (11), diggers (08), wrench (01), hack, saw (01), cutlass (3), pieces of iron rod, Indian Hemp and water pump (1).Others are bill boards (31), pliers (02), hoes (05), knives (02), private guard company kit (2 pairs), batons (02), iron rods (06), carts (02), water horse, solar cables, generators (01) and perimeter fencing wire.
Similarly, the economic value of the vandalised infrastructure is estimated at N5,000,000 while the
selling points of the items are already known and the buyers would soon be apprehended, NSCDC, said
“At the end of all the investigations, the suspects will be charged to court so that justice will take its course,,” the NSCDC further noted, adding that all criminally-minded persons residing in FCT should do themselves some good and either desist from acts of criminality or relocate from Abuja, as the corps would leave no stone unturned to fish them out and ensure they are brought to book.
Olusola further called on FCT residents to always give security agencies credible information, as no security agency is self-sufficient.