FCT Police Arrest 31 Suspects in ₦1 Billion Infrastructure Theft Crackdown


 The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 31 suspects involved in the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure worth over ₦1 billion.

The arrests follow a joint security operation, “Operation Sweep,” launched to combat the rising menace of vandalism across the FCT.

Announcing the development at a press briefing, the FCT Commissioner of Police detailed how the operation led to the recovery of stolen public assets, including manhole covers, electric cables, transformer components, solar panels, and industrial batteries.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed that some recovered cables were responsible for blackouts in areas like Dawaki, Mpape, Nyanya, and Karu. 

The operation commenced after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, directed a temporary closure of all scrap yards, commonly known as Pantaker markets, suspected of fueling the illegal trade in stolen government assets. Security agencies, including the Police, Nigerian Army, NSCDC, DSS, and others, raided multiple locations such as Dei-Dei, Nyanya, Zuba, and Mpape

Authorities retrieved a vast array of stolen infrastructure, including:

  • 115 manhole covers
  • 29 industrial solar batteries
  • Copper wires and fiber optic cables
  • Generators, motorcycles, and water pumping machines
  • Vehicle parts with altered chassis numbers
  • Security doors and industrial scaffoldings

Sixteen of the arrested suspects have already been charged to court under Section 332 of the Penal Code, which prescribes life imprisonment for mischief involving public roads, electrical installations, and other critical infrastructure.

The FCT Police Command reiterated the ban on scavengers in Abuja and mandated all Pantaker operators to undergo registration. Residents have been urged to report vandalism or suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

The authorities have vowed that the crackdown will continue, with no hiding place for those engaged in infrastructure theft.

LV


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