The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has arrested five suspects for destroying and removing the manhole covers and armoured cables around Constitution Avenue, Central area, Abuja.
Acting Public Relations Officer of the Command, Monica Ojobi, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the suspects were apprehended in the dead of the night during the weekend when they came out to carry out their nefarious act.
She said the Corps has intensified surveillance following the recent upsurge in the vandalisation of public infrastructure in FCT, saying this led to the arrest of the five (5) vandals along Constitutional Avenue, Central Area at the weekend.
The Commandant of the NSCDC FCT Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu, described the constant vandalism of infrastructure in the FCT as inhuman and an act of wickedness.
“This is absolutely unacceptable, it is barbaric and evil, and it must stop immediately because we are not backing down on our quest to bring an end to this ugly trend.
“If they have decided not to repent, we will continue to change tactics and re-strategize until we are able to bring this menace of vandalism to an end”, Odumosu said.
The suspect arrested are Nafiu Ibrahim, male, nineteen (19) years old, from Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Shefiu Sadiq, male, twenty-one(21) years old, from Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State
Others are Yahaya Musbau, Male, 24 years old, Mohanzam Muktar, Male, 20 years old and Yunusa Ma’ aruf Male, nineteen (19) years old all from Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Exhibits recovered from them are; two (2) manhole covers, underground Armoured Cables, two diggers and (1) Toyota Carina and (1) Toyota Corolla cars the vandals kept on standby to evacuate their loot.
Also arrested for vandalizing concrete reinforcement iron rods for drainage along the Presidential Villa are; Haruna Yahaya, Male, 20 years old, from Kura Local Government Area of Kano state and Haliru Sanusi, Male, 22 years of age from Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Commandant Odumosu, emphasized the need for the regulation of the pantaker markets into the FCT, noting that if there are no ready buyers, vandals will not indulge in vandalism.
He appealed to the government to promulgate stiffer penalties for vandals to keep off and serve as a deterrent to others.
Odumosu appealed also to residents of the FCT to synergise with the Command in ensuring the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure through credible intelligence as the input of residents of the FCT is very essential in combating these despicable acts of Vandalism.
He disclosed that the suspects are currently undergoing investigations and due diligence would be followed to ensure that justice is served.
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