The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the Federal Capital Territory has revealed that vandals have caused an estimated N5m in damage to public infrastructure in Abuja.
The FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday following the arrest of 13 individuals suspected of vandalising critical national assets.
The suspects, arrested between Saturday and Monday, were involved in the destruction of street light cables, billboards, armoured electrical cables, and iron rods across various parts of the capital.
“We have 13 suspects arrested in different parts of the FCT between Saturday, September 7, 2024, and Monday, September 9, 2024.
“Following intense surveillance and patrol as well tip-off, the intelligence personnel working with the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department combed various parts of the city and arrested the 13 suspects,” the commandant said.
The items targeted are valued at approximately N5m, according to the NSCDC.
Odumosu noted, “The economic value of the vandalised infrastructure is estimated at N5m only.”
Among the areas hit by the vandals were major locations such as the Kukwaba Railways overhead bridge and Nnamdi Azikiwe Way.
The command also recovered a range of stolen materials, including motorcycles, shovels, armoured cables, billboards, and iron rods, from the suspects.
Odumosu vowed that the NSCDC would intensify its efforts to protect the city’s assets and warned criminals to desist from their activities or face the full wrath of the law.
He further stated that investigations were going onon, and the suspects would be prosecuted.
He also said efforts were being made to track and apprehend buyers involved in the resale of the stolen items.
“The selling points of these items are already known and the buyers will soon be apprehended. At the end of all investigations, the suspect will be charged in court so that justice will take its course.
“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 Abuja as we will leave no stone unturned to fish them out and ensure they are brought to book,” he added.
