Monday Reuben, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – Operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested 50 suspects allegedly involved in vandalism of public infrastructure and massive theft of manhole covers within the territory.
Briefing newsmen while parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters on Monday, FCT Police Commissioner, Tunji Disu, said they were arrested through a targeted operation.
He added that the operation also led to the recovery of 25 manhole covers, three vehicles, vandalised solar street lights, galvanised rods used in the construction of flyovers, other tools used in vandalising the government installations and several other exhibits at various panteka hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi and Wuse areas of Abuja.
“Investigations have revealed that these individuals operate as part of a larger network, selling stolen manhole covers to scrap dealers. 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 said.
The arrested suspects 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 and Munir Sada.
The others are 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.
Disu said items recovered from the suspects include 25 galvanised manhole covers, five solar street lights, several galvanised poles used in the construction of flyovers and street light poles cut into smaller pieces.
Other exhibits recovered from the suspects include: “several rolls of high voltage AEDC cables, two locally made pistols, two live cartridges, one sharp knife, 30 tubes of triple sub glue, several charms, 13 large solar panels, seven barrels of diesel suspected to have been stolen from network masts one 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 car tire rims, one fire extinguisher, 11 plasma TV sets, several decoders and remotes, 13) cement bags two reinforced iron door, three pumping machines suspected to be used in extracting diesel, two car batteries, one photo frame, one pack of tiles, 16 plastic chairs, three generators, four (4) sumo water pumps and several iron cutting tools
“The diversity and volume of recovered items highlight the extensive and organised nature of these syndicates, whose activities have caused significant harm to public infrastructure projects and services in the FCT.
“I want to emphasise 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.”
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