Five suspected vandals have been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command at two different locations in Abuja city centre.
The spokesperson of the Corps, CSC Samuel Idoko, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, said two of the suspects, Suleiman Ibrahim, Male, 17 years, from Kano State and Abubakar Zakari, Male, 22 years also from Kano State were arrested around Wuse Market Bridge with iron poles by the operatives of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) Department of the Command on routine patrol.
“The duo were trailed from the Arts and Culture Complex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja where they had vandalized the iron poles and were moving it to where they would sell to an already known buyers, they are currently giving useful information that will lead to the arrest of the buyers,” the statement read.
“In a similar development, operatives of the anti-vandal unit of the Command acting on a tip off, arrested three (3) suspected vandals around Durumi 2 pantaker market, Abuja.
“The suspects, Aliyu Danladi, Male, 37 years from Kano State, Jamilu Abdulrahaman, Male, 25 years from Zamfara State and Usman Ibrahim, Male, 38 years from Sokoto State, were arrested at about midnight while attempting to move suspected stolen and vandalised items to the place where they would be sold.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are part of a syndicate and are always in possession of items suspected to have been vandalised or stolen.
“The items recovered from them include three (3) Electronic bill boards, two (2) Solar batteries, one (1) Gas cylinder, one (1) Generator set, one (1) Refrigerator gas cylinder, one (1) Iron hammer, one (1) Big Iron scissors, one (1) Air Conditioner gas pipe, Abuja vehicle plate number, two (2) Iron Pinches, one (1) Machete, and two (2) Plastic drums.
“According to findings, buyers come to the location where they were arrested at ungodly hours with trucks to buy the items and convey them to destinations yet to be known.
“The FCT Commandant of NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, PhD, once again called for the regulation of pantaker markets in the FCT as they have become notorious places where vandalised and stolen items are sold.
“If we must rid the FCT of scavengers and vandals who are sabotaging the efforts of the government on infrastructural development, then, there is an urgent need to regulate pantaker markets in the Federal Capital, Territory”
“The majority of stolen and vandalised items from road and railway corridors, including household items as well as electrical installations find their way into the hands of waiting buyers at the pantaker markets and this has become increasingly worrisome“, he said.
Investigation is currently ongoing to ensure that justice is served and the perpetrators of these heinous crimes would be held accountable and made to face the full wrath of the law as the NSCDC, FCT Command has zero tolerance for vandalism.”
