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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has apprehended 30 suspected vandals in its fight against vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure in the territory between January and June this year.
The FCT Command Boss, Olusola Odumosu, said the arrests are proof that the FCT Command is not backing down in its resolve to ensure the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in the FCT as well as chase out vandals and criminal elements from the city.
Odumosu said on Wednesday in a statement by the FCT Command Public Relations Officer, DSC Monica Ojobi, that between January and June this year, the Command arrested 30 for vandalising critical national assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) at different locations in the territory.
He disclosed that within the period, the command has recorded successes in its fight against vandalism and the protection of CNAI across the FCT.
Giving a breakdown of the arrests, he explained that seven suspects were arrested in January, two in March, four in April, five in May and 10 in June.
The commandant said that three suspects were arrested for vandalising crash barriers along Constitution Avenue in the central area of the territory.
“During the operation, 12 vandalised crash barriers and eight poles were recovered,” he said.
He added that in a separate operation at Dakibiyu, Jabi District, the command recovered a vandalised electricity transformer and arrested three suspects in connection with the crime.
“Similarly, three suspected transformer vandals were arrested in another operation, during which six transformer components that had been vandalised and were being carted away were recovered.
“The command also apprehended illegal telecommunications cable operators engaged in unlawful cabling activities in the Sunnyvale area of the FCT.
“Two suspected telecommunications infrastructure vandals were arrested around the Transcorp Bridge while attempting to vandalise public utility facilities,” Odumosu stated.
He further explained that two suspects were arrested for vandalising fibre optic cables around Leisure Court, Lugbe, while in April, two suspected iron rod vandals were apprehended in the Central Area.
According to him, two suspected armoured cable vandals were nabbed in Utako, and three others were arrested in Zone 3 area for the same crime.
He also said that a 25-year-old male suspect was arrested around Aco Estate, Lugbe, Airport Road, vandalising streetlight input cables.
The commandant revealed that six lengths of electric iron and one pole hanger were recovered from a 26-year-old male caught vandalising an electric pole at Wuse Zone 6.
The command helmsman applauds his operatives for recovering a large quantity of armoured cables from the suspects.
The FCT Boss reiterates that these arrests underscore the commitment of the NSCDC FCT command in protecting CNAI and ensuring that criminals are brought to justice.
“Although the command has recorded notable successes, we are not resting on our oars; we will continue to intensify surveillance, strengthen intelligence gathering and sustain enforcement operations to rid the FCT of vandals and other criminal elements.
“Our resolve remains firm to ensure the safety of public infrastructure and maintain a secure environment for all residents,” he said.
