FCT Police Arrest 50 Suspected Vandals, Recover 25 Manhole Covers, Others
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Police operatives attached to the FCT Police Command, have arrested 50 persons for their involvement in acts of vandalism and theft of manhole covers within the territory.
The Commissioner, FCT Police Command, CP Olatunji Disu, who made the disclosure on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja, expressed pleasure at the significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts of the command to tackle the menace of vandalism, which poses serious risks to public safety and infrastructure.
According to Disu, the targeted operation also led to the recovery of 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 pantaker hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi and Wuse.
The FCT CP disclosed further that 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”, Disu said.
Suspects arrested are: 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-Chukwu Emmanuel, Abba Ismail, Najib Abdul, Muhammed Lawal, Rabiu Ibrahim, Adamu Suleiman, Abdulkarim Abdullahi and Haruna Nasiru.
Others are 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 and Suleiman Abu.
Others are Nafiu Ahmmed, Kamalu Junaidu, Zaradeen Yakubu, Abdulhadi Adam, Mohammed Ibrahim, Chukwu Emmanuel, Douglas Yahaya, Mohammed Lawal, Auwal Musa and Abubakar Kabiru.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include: several rolls of high voltage AEDC cables, 2 locally made pistols, 2 live cartridges, a sharp knife, 30 tubes of triple sub glue, several charms, 13 large solar panels, 7 barrels of diesel suspected to have been stolen from network masts, 1 Volkswagen sporter bus with Reg. No. BJK 592 XA reconstructed into a diesel tanker and 1 Toyota Carina II vehicle with Reg. No. RBC 312 JL.
Others are: several iron rebar rods, 9 car tire rims, 1 fire extinguisher, 11 plasma TV sets, several decoders and remote controls, 13 cement bags, 2 reinforced iron doors, 3 pumping machines suspected to be used in extracting diesel, 2 car batteries, and 1 pack of tiles, 3 generators and 2 gas cylinders among many other items.
“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”, Disu said, adding for emphasis 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”.
He assured that the command will continue to ensure that all those responsible for these criminal acts are brought to justice.
