Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested four persons involved in the theft and vandalism of streetlight poles in Abuja.
They were arrested during intensified late-night patrols in response to intelligence reports indicating a rise in vandalism targeting streetlight poles under the cover of darkness.
Parading the suspects yesterday, the Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said the suspects were caught with the stolen items and had to hire cranes to transport the larger poles.
Odumosu, who described the arrest as the latest in a series of successful operations so far carried out by his personnel against vandals, expressed confidence that it marked a significant step in the fight against vandalism, stressing the corps’ commitment to protecting more critical national assets.
While warning vandals to cease their activities or face severe consequences, he added that the suspects were undergoing investigation, and efforts to ensure justice would be pursued.
He promised that the FCT Command, under his watch, would continue conducting 24-hour surveillance to prevent further vandalism in the nation’s capital and its surrounding areas.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects included stolen traffic light poles, including one medium-sized and two gigantic poles.
The arrests were made at different locations during late-night operations.
Those arrested include ; Japheth Adams, from Zango Kataf, Kaduna State; Friday Ojo from Lagos State;
Ibrahim Aliyu from Nasarawa in Kano State and Hassan Abdullahi from Zaria in Kaduna State.