A joint security task force comprising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, the Nigerian Army Guards Brigade, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) among others, have arrested 31 suspected vandals across Abuja.
The suspects were found in possession of stolen public infrastructure valued at over ₦1 billion, including electrical components, manhole covers, and industrial materials.
Disruptions to Power Supply
While parading the suspects on Friday, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu, revealed that several of the arrested individuals had stolen critical public infrastructure, leading to prolonged blackouts in several communities. According to Disu, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed that many of the recovered cables and electrical components were vandalized from multiple electricity stations across the FCT.
“As a direct consequence of these acts of vandalism, residents of Dawaki, Mpape, Nyanya, Karu, and surrounding communities have suffered prolonged power outages,” Disu said. “The estimated value of all recovered infrastructure exceeds ₦1 billion.”
Recovered Items and Crackdown on Illegal Scrap Yards
The security task force recovered a large cache of stolen public assets, including:
- 115 manhole and drainage covers
- Stripped electric transformers
- Industrial scaffoldings
- Bundles of armoured and insulated cables
- Government-installed barbed wire
- Copper wires
- 29 industrial and solar batteries
- Five motorcycles
- Fake Mercedes-Benz chassis numbers and unverifiable vehicle documents
Disu disclosed that security forces conducted targeted raids on illegal scrap yards and scavengers’ colonies (known as “Pantakers”), where stolen infrastructure is dismantled and resold.
The raids took place in key locations:
- January 24 – Zuba (Abuja) and Diko (Niger State), where stolen industrial solar batteries, solar panels, and large sacks of armoured cables were recovered.
- January 26 – Further raids in Diko uncovered more stolen infrastructure materials.
- January 28 – Illegal structures along the Dape Village road corridor were demolished to reclaim public property.
- January 29 – A raid on Dei-Dei ‘B’ Pantaker led to the recovery of stolen government-installed barbed wire.
Legal Action and Warning to Vandals
Out of the 31 arrested suspects, 16 have already been charged to court for criminal conspiracy and mischief by damaging public infrastructure.
Those charged include:
- Abubakar Adamu, Emmanuel Eze, Emeka Eziekel, Ahmad Suleiman, Dennis Chiagozie, Ismail Usman, Victor Ezeokoye, Izundu Fidelis, Alex Eddy, Jonathan Obi, Simon Samuel, Mubarak Lawal, Okafor Ekene, Usman Lawal, Shuaibu Yahaya, and James Edu.
Disu reaffirmed the commitment of security agencies to eliminating vandalism and protecting critical infrastructure in Abuja and its surrounding areas.
“This comprehensive operation represents a decisive move to eliminate vandalism and protect critical infrastructure within the FCT and neighboring states,” he said.
The FCT Police Command has also warned criminal elements that security forces will not relent in their efforts to track, arrest, and prosecute individuals sabotaging public utilities.