NSCDC arrests nine suspects for vandalising telecom masts

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command, has apprehended nine suspects for vandalising telecommunications masts and other critical national infrastructure within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Items recovered from the suspects included Base Transceiver Station (BTS) cabinets, four melted bags of armored cables/wires, concrete reinforcement iron rods, 11 bags of condemned iron, one 75-amp battery, scaffolding clips and bolts, copper wires, solar panel cables, and copper wires from burnt armored cables.

NSCDC FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, paraded the suspects on Wednesday at the Command Headquarters in Abuja.

He noted that the arrest was part of the Command’s ongoing efforts to maintain 24-hour surveillance over government infrastructure, sites, and projects, with a view to curbing vandalism within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He explained that the suspected vandals were arrested by operatives of the Command at various locations within the FCT.

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He condemned the activities of vandals and other criminal elements who destroy, dismantle, and steal public utilities such as streetlights, manhole covers, bridges, and other road infrastructure meant to serve the people of the FCT.

Odumosu further stated that four of the nine suspects were directly involved in the vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure, while five of the suspects were buyers of the vandalized public property.

According to him, on October 15, 2024, at about 01:30 hours, the Command’s patrol team intercepted some vandals in the process of vandalizing telecommunications masts in the Package B area of the Moshood Abiola Stadium.

He said, “One of the suspects, Abdulahi Sani, a 24-year-old male from Kukawa LGA of Borno State, was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, October 22, 2024, by the Command’s operatives during a routine night patrol.

“He was caught in the act of dismantling and vandalizing streetlight armored cables around the Yoruba Mosque, Utako.

“Further investigations led to the arrest of five buyers of the vandalized critical national assets and infrastructure at the Pantaker market in Jabi, Abuja,” the Commandant said.

Odumosu reaffirmed the NSCDC FCT Command’s resolute commitment to sanitizing and ridding the FCT of vandals. He emphasized that the Command is responsible for protecting critical national assets and will not rest until “we rid the FCT of these miscreants.”

He therefore urged all residents of the FCT to remain alert, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies by reporting any suspicious activities of vandals, criminals, or suspicious individuals or groups to the appropriate authorities.