From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command has arrested five suspects for the vandalism of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) in Abuja.
Parading the suspects, the FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said the five suspects were arrested with a full truckload of vandalised items at Dei Dei U-Turn by Mopol Barracks on Saturday, November 16, 2024, after resisting arrest at Aso Radio, Katampe axis, by speeding off.
According to Odumosu, investigations so far have revealed that the suspects were coming from Guata junction in Nasarawa State to deposit the items at an Iron Melting Company situated at Sabo Wuse, Kaduna Road, Niger State.
The FCT Commandant reiterated the corps’ preparedness to keep vandals out of business and out of the FCT for good.
*”We are not taking it lightly with those who have chosen to sabotage the good efforts and intentions of the government to give meaningful life to the residents of the FCT,”* he stated.
The commandant maintained that the FCT Command is poised to fish out bad eggs with the constant night patrols by the intelligence team, as well as the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department’s Tactical team on routine night patrols.
*”We have a renewed vigour to fulfil our mandate of protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure. We are not resting on our oars until we rid the capital city of these miscreants,”* he promised.
The FCT boss disclosed that items recovered included drainage covers, iron pipe protection for bridge shoulders, communication mast accessories, rolls of stainless steel pipe clamps, angle bars from public water tanks, scaffold pipes and clips, manhole covers, electricity aluminium conductors, wire mesh, armoured aluminium conductors, iron steel sections (U, angle and I sections), rice milling machine iron, welding wires, binding wires, barbed wires, vandalised motorcycle parts, vandalised vehicle parts, vandalised wheelbarrows, and household utensils/property suspected to have been stolen.
The suspects are: Aminu Yusuf, 25 years, male, Bebeji LGA, Kano State; Saminu Yusuf, 20 years, male, Bebeji LGA, Kano State; Adamu Sani, 20 years, male, Bebeji LGA, Kano State; Suleiman Yusuf, 20 years, Bebeji LGA, Kano State; Usman Jalo, 27 years, Keffi LGA, Niger State.
The FCT helmsman assured the corps’ unwavering commitment and determination to continue performing their duties optimally until vandals, scavengers (Babanbola), and other saboteurs are chased out of the FCT.
*”We want to state clearly that the FCT is a no-go area for vandals, scavengers, and all the hoodlums sleeping under the bridges in the city and coming out at night to vandalise government property and attack innocent commuters and residents,”* he noted, while warning vandals to either repent, relocate, or be ready to face the wrath of the law. He stated that the suspects are currently undergoing investigation and due diligence would be followed to ensure that justice is served.
Odumosu, who re-emphasised the corps’ commitment to securing the FCT, solicited the public’s cooperation in providing prompt intelligence information to enable the corps to serve them better.