From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command Monday paraded fifty suspects responsible for the theft of manhole, traffic lights, and other government installations in Abuja.
The FCT police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, said the suspects, arrested in various parts of the FCT, were found to be in possession of 25, manhole covers, 3 vehicles, vandalized solar street lights, galvanized rods used in the construction of flyovers, dangerous weapons and equipment used in vandalizing government installations.
He gave the names of the suspects to include Bashir Usman, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sani Isah,
Ibrahim Hassan, Mustapha Hassan Awal Nawan, Umar Aliyu, Auta Umar, Simon Clement, Datti Ibrahim
Mohammed Salim
Ibrahim Ibrahim
Ifeanyi-Chuckwu Emmanuel,Abba Ismail, Najib Abdul
Muhammed Lawal
Rabiu Ibrahim
Adamu Suleiman
Abdulkarim Abdullahi
Haruna Nasiru
Abdul Nai’ja
Josua Steven
Livinus Steven
Ismail Abdullahi
Munir Sada, Ibrahim Yahaya
Yahaya Musa, Dahiru Nasiru
Abdullahi Muhammed, Monday Barnabas
Hamisu Iman, Promise Abanonum
Ehieze Emeka
Ehieze Justice
Mohammed Inusa
Tijanni Suleiman
Promise James
Haruna Auwalu
Ayuba Danjuma
Suleiman Abu
Nafiu Ahmmed
Kamalu Junaidu
Zaradeen Yakubu
Abdulhadi Adam
Mohammed Ibrahim
Chukwu Emmanuel
Douglas Yahaya
Mohammed Lawal
Auwal Musa and Abubakar Kabiru.
Parading the suspects before newsmen at the Command headquarters in abuja, FCT police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, said the Command also carried a raid on criminal hideouts, scrap markets popularly known as Panteka, located at Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi and Wuse and recovered several exhibits.
He said investigations revealed that the suspects operate as part of a larger network, selling stolen manhole covers to scrap dealers.
Disu, while assuring of the commands
The Commissioner said “in our continued partnership in our shared commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property within the FCT, we are pleased to announce a significant breakthrough in our ongoing efforts to tackle the menace of vandalism, which poses serious risks to public safety and infrastructure.
“The Command has successfully arrested groups of suspects involved in the vandalism and theft of manhole covers within the territory.
He said “our operatives conducted a targeted operation, leading to the arrest of FIFTY (50) suspects and recovery of TWENTY-FIVE (25) manhole covers, THREE (3) vehicles, vandalized solar street lights, galvanized rods used in the construction of flyovers, other tools used in vandalizing these government installations, and several other exhibits at various panteka hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi and Wuse. “This criminal activity endangers the lives of the general public by creating hazards on roads and walkways while undermining the integrity of public infrastructure.
He listed Items recovered from the suspects to include
● Twenty-five (25) galvanized manhole covers
● Five (5) solar street lights
● Several galvanized poles used in the construction of flyovers
● Fifteen (15) street light poles cut into smaller pieces.
● Several rolls of high voltage AEDC cables
● Two locally made pistols
● Two live cartridges
● One sharp knife
● Thirty (30) tubes of triple sub glue
● Several charms
● Thirteen (13) large solar panels
● Seven (7) barrels of diesel suspected to have been stolen from network masts
● One (1) Volkswagen sporter bus with Reg. No. BJK 592 XA reconstructed into a diesel tanker
● One Toyota Carina II vehicle with Reg. No. RBC 312 JL
● Several iron rebar rods.
● Nine (9) car tire rims.
● One (1) fire extinguisher
● Eleven (11) plasma TV sets
● Several decoders and remotes
● Thirteen (13) cement bags
● Two reinforced iron doors
● Three (3) pumping machines suspected to be used in extracting diesel
● Two (2) car batteries
● One photo frame
● One (1) pack of tiles
● Sixteen (16) plastic chairs
● Three (3) generators
● One (1) aluminum ladder
● One (1) wheel barrow
● One (1) roll of roofing sheets
● Two (2) gas cylinders
● One (1) indoor and outdoor AC Unit
● Four (4) sumo water pumps
● Several iron-cutting tools
The diversity and volume of recovered items highlight the extensive and organized nature of these syndicates, whose activities have caused significant harm to public infrastructure projects and services in the FCT.
He said, “I want to emphasize that the FCT Police Command and our sister security agencies operate a zero-tolerance policy toward acts of vandalism and theft that undermine public infrastructure and safety.
“This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the critical infrastructure of the Federal Capital Territory. We will continue to ensure that all those responsible for these criminal acts are brought to justice. The kind of these enclaves will continue.”