The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the Federal Capital Territory has reported that vandals have caused an estimated N5 million in damages to public infrastructure in Abuja.
The FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, made this announcement during a press briefing on Monday following the arrest of 13 individuals suspected of vandalising critical national assets.
The suspects, apprehended between 7 and 9 September 2024, 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, 7 September 2024, and the early hours of Monday, 9 September 2024.
“Following intense surveillance and patrols, as well as a 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 NSCDC estimates the value of the targeted items to be approximately N5 million.
Odumosu noted, “The economic value of the vandalised infrastructure is estimated at five million naira only.”
Among the areas affected were key locations such as the Kukwaba railway overhead bridge and Nnamdi Azikiwe Way.
The command also recovered a range of stolen materials from the suspects, including motorcycles, shovels, armoured cables, billboards, and iron rods.
Odumosu vowed that the NSCDC would intensify efforts to protect the city’s assets and warned criminals to desist from their activities or face the full force of the law.
He further stated that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be prosecuted.
Additionally, efforts are 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 conclusion of investigations, the suspects will be charged in court so that justice may take its course.
“Once again, I want to warn all criminally minded persons residing in the FCT to do themselves a favour by either desisting from criminal acts or relocating from Abuja, as we will leave no stone unturned in fishing them out and ensuring they are brought to justice,” he added.
