The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has arrested nine suspects, four, who are suspected vandals of critical national assets and infrastructure, and another five suspected illicit buyers of vandalised items.
Our reporter gathered that the suspects were arrested in various locations within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the operatives of the Command.
Parading the suspects in Abuja on Wednesday, the NSCDC-FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said the arrest of the suspects was necessitated by the need to not only preserve the integrity of the critical national infrastructure in the FCT, but to rid the territory of vandals and criminal elements destroying, dismantling and carting away public infrastructure.
Odumosu disclosed that the command made extra efforts to uncover the beneficiaries of these unlawful activities, adding that these efforts led to the arrest of five other individuals involved in the illegal purchase of vandalised critical national assets and infrastructure, thereby fueling this criminal enterprise.
He stated that investigations are ongoing to unravel the kingpins behind the activities of these vandals and their buyers, adding that at the end, those found culpable would be arrested, charged and prosecuted accordingly.
The Commandant stated that vandalism of public infrastructure is not a victimless crime, because the damage to public infrastructure affects every resident of the FCT.
He continued, “It disrupts the provision of essential services, endangers lives, and places an additional burden on the government’s efforts and resources to replace the stolen assets.
The parade of these suspects today and the huge amount of exhibits recovered from them is a testament to the effectiveness of the proactive strategy and intensified patrol by the NSCDC FCT Command, to deter vandals and other criminals, as well as to ensure the apprehension of those responsible for such illegalities in the FCT.
The Command is therefore sending a stern and unequivocal warning message to vandals, scavengers AKA Baba-Bola, and other criminals that, vandalism of public properties and criminality will no longer be tolerated within our jurisdiction.
The Command remains resolute in its avowed commitment to sanitise and rid the fct of vandals.
We will continue to work tirelessly to protect public infrastructure and maintain peace and security within the territory.”