By Palma Ileye
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command has arrested five (5) suspects for vandalism of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in Abuja.
Briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Abuja while parading the suspects, the FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu said that the five suspects were arrested with a full truck load of vandalized items at Dei Dei-U-Turn by Mopol Barracks on Saturday 16th November, 2024 after resisting arrest at Aso Radio, Katampe axis by speeding off.
According to Odumosu, investigations so far has revealed that the suspects were coming from Guata junction in Nasarawa State to deposit the items at Iron Melting Company situated at Sabo Wuse, Kaduna Road, Niger State.
He reiterated the Corps’ preparedness to keep vandals out of business and out of the FCT for good saying that, “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.”
The Commandant maintained that the FCT Command was poised to fish out bad eggs with the constant night patrols by the Eagle Eyes Intelligence team as well as the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department’s Tactical team on routine night patrols.
“We have a renewed vigor 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 said.
The FCT boss disclosed that the items ranging from drainage covers, Iron pipe protection for bridge shoulder, communication mast accessories, rolls of stainless steel pipe clamps, angle bar from public water tank as well as scaffold pipes and clips were recovered.
Other items he said were recovered included manhole covers, electricity Aluminum conductors, wire mesh, Armoured Aluminum conductors, Iron steel section-U, Angle and I section, Rice milling machine Iron, welding wires, binding wires, barb wires, vandalized motorcycle parts, vandalized vehicle parts, vandalized wheel barrows and household utensils/properties suspected to have been stolen.
The suspects according to a statement issued by the Acting CDPRO, Ojobi Monica are: Aminu Yusuf, “25yrs”, Male, Bebeji LGA, Kano State; Saminu Yusuf “20yrs”, Male, Bebeji LGA, Kano State; Adamu Sani, “20yrs”, Male, Bebeji LGA, Kano State; Suleiman Yusuf “20yrs”, Bebeji LGA, Kano State and Usman Jalo,”27yrs”, Keffi LGA, Niger State.
The FCT helmsman assured of the Corps’ unwavering commitment and determination to continue to perform their duty optimally until vandals, scavengers (Babanbola) and other saboteurs were chased out of the FCT stating, “We want to state clearly that 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 vandalism government property and attacking innocent commuters and residents.”
He warned vandals to either repent, relocate or be ready to face the wrath of the law stating that the suspects were currently undergoing investigation and due diligence would be followed in ensuring that justice served.
Dr. Odumosu, who re- emphasized the Corps’ commitment to secure the FCT, solicited the public’s cooperation in the area of prompt intelligence information to enable the corps serve them better.