The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has apprehended 13 suspects for alleged vandalisation of some critical national assets and infrastructure in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr Olusola Odumosu, paraded the suspects on Monday.
“We have 13 suspects arrested in different parts of FCT between Saturday, 7th September, 2024 and the early hours of Monday,9th September,2024 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.
According to him, the suspects use the cover of heavy downpours to perpetrate their nefarious activities in FCT.
He revealed that items recovered from them ranged from vandalised street lights, billboards, armoured electrical cables, and rods among other items valued at N5 million.
He said the selling points of the exhibits have been discovered while efforts are in place to track prospective buyers.
“At the end of all investigations, the suspects will be charged to court so that justice will take its course,” Odumosu said.
He warned those nursing the intention of vandalising public assets to desist as the Corps will not allow anyone to frustrate the Federal Government’s efforts at providing infrastructure for the people.
He said; “Once again, I want to warn every criminally-minded person residing in the FCT to do themselves some good and either desist from acts of criminality or relocate from the FCT.
“We will not leave any stone unturned to fish vandals out and ensure they are brought to book”.
He also commended the Command’s intelligence department for effectively utilizing the techniques learned during a recent training exercise.
“During the training, they were charged to be proactive and to rid the FCT of vandals of our national assets and infrastructures,” he said.
One of the suspects who gave his name as Jacob Jibut said it was his first time participating in the act, saying he needed money for some domestic needs, hence his resort to vandalism.
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