The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command, has arrested nine suspects for vandalizing telecommunications masts and other critical national infrastructure within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
During the arrest, NSCDC operatives recovered several items from the suspects, including Base Transceiver Station (BTS) cabinets, four melted bags of armored cables and wires, concrete reinforcement iron rods, 11 bags of condemned iron, a 75-amp battery, scaffolding clips and bolts, copper wires, solar panel cables, and more copper wires from burnt armored cables.
Speaking at the Command Headquarters in Abuja, NSCDC FCT Commandant Dr. Olusola Odumosu paraded the suspects on Wednesday. He highlighted the Command’s ongoing efforts to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of government infrastructure, projects, and critical sites to curb the rising incidents of vandalism across the FCT.
Dr. Odumosu explained that the arrests took place at various locations in the FCT and were part of a strategic crackdown on criminal elements targeting public infrastructure. He condemned the activities of vandals who damage and steal public utilities, including streetlights, manhole covers, and bridge components, all of which are essential for public welfare.
According to the Commandant, four of the nine suspects were directly involved in vandalizing critical national assets, while the other five were buyers of the stolen goods. On October 15, 2024, at around 1:30 a.m., the NSCDC patrol team caught a group of vandals in the act of damaging telecommunications masts at the Package B area of the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
He further revealed that another suspect, 24-year-old Abdulahi Sani from Kukawa Local Government Area in Borno State, was apprehended in the early hours of October 22, 2024, while dismantling streetlight armored cables near the Yoruba Mosque in Utako during a routine night patrol.
“Further investigations led to the arrest of five buyers of the stolen national assets at the Pantaker market in Jabi, Abuja,” Dr. Odumosu added.
Reaffirming the NSCDC’s commitment to safeguarding national assets, Dr. Odumosu stressed that the Command will not relent until it eradicates vandalism in the FCT. He called on residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities or individuals to the authorities, emphasizing the need for public cooperation to prevent further destruction of critical infrastructure.
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