According to him, operatives conducted a targeted operation, leading to the arrest of the suspects and recovery of 25 manhole covers, three vehicles, vandalised solar street lights, galvanised rods used in the construction of flyovers, other tools used in vandalising these government installations, and other exhibits at various Panteka hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi and Wuse.
Other items recovered, he said, include several rolls of high voltage Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (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 bus with Reg. No. BJK 592 XA was reconstructed into a diesel tanker and one Toyota Carina II vehicle with Reg. No. RBC 312 JL.
The CP stressed that this criminal activity endangers the lives of the general public by creating hazards on roads and walkways while undermining the integrity of public infrastructure.
“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 FCT.
“We will continue to ensure that all those responsible for these criminal acts are brought to justice. The kind of these enclaves will continue,” he added.
Mr Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, to the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, who stated this in a statement in Abuja, noted that some exhibits have been recovered from the company and were in the custody of the police. He added that further investigations were ongoing to determine the company and others’ involvement in the removal, purchase and melting of the manhole covers.
Olayinka explained that some of the suspected manhole vandals detained by the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were helping with useful information.
“The arrested persons are helping the security agencies with useful information about the buyers of the vandalised manhole covers and other infrastructure,” he said.
Olayinka disclosed that the replacement of the vandalised manhole covers had begun on Sunday as directed by the FCT minister. He had expressed Wike’s displeasure over the removal of sewage manhole covers on highways.
This, he said, was putting the lives of road users at risk, stressing that the minister had vowed that the FCT Administration would do everything necessary to bring the perpetrators to book.
