In its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property within Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has announce a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to tackle the menace of vandalism, which poses serious risks to public safety and infrastructure.

The Command has successfully arrested groups of suspects involved in the vandalism and theft of manhole covers within the territory.

Briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu said operatives conducted a targeted operation, leading to the arrest of fifty suspects and recovery of twenty-five manhole covers, three vehicles, vandalised solar street lights, galvanised rods used in the construction of flyovers, other tools used in vandalising the government installations, and several other exhibits at various panteka hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi and Wuse.

Disu said investigations have revealed that the individuals operate as part of a larger network, selling stolen manhole covers to scrap dealers.

According to him, the criminal activity endangers the lives of the public by creating hazards on roads and walkways while undermining the integrity of public infrastructure.

He identified the suspects to include; Bashir Usman, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sani Isah, Ibrahim Hassan, Mustapha Hassan, Awal Nawan, Umar Aliyu, Auta Umar, Simon Clement, Datti Ibrahim, Mohammed Salim, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Ifeanyi-Chuckwu Emmanuel, Abba Ismail, Najib Abdul, Muhammed Lawal, Rabiu Ibrahim, Adamu Suleiman, Abdulkarim Abdullahi, Haruna Nasiru, Abdul Nai’ja, Josua Steven, Livinus Steven, Ismail Abdullahi, Munir Sada.

Others are Ibrahim Yahaya, Yahaya Musa, Dahiru Nasiru, Abdullahi Muhammed, Monday Barnabas, Hamisu Iman, Promise Abanonum, Ehieze Emeka, Ehieze Justice, Mohammed Inusa, Tijanni Suleiman, Promise James, Haruna Auwalu, Ayuba Danjuma, Suleiman Abu, Nafiu Ahmmed, Kamalu Junaidu, Zaradeen Yakubu, Abdulhadi Adam, Mohammed Ibrahim, Chukwu Emmanuel, Douglas Yahaya, Mohammed Lawal, Auwal Musa, Abubakar Kabiru.

CP Disu said exhibits recovered also include
twenty-five galvanised manhole covers, five
solar street lights, Several galvanised poles used in the construction of flyovers, fifteen street light poles cut into smaller pieces.

Others are Several rolls of high voltage AEDC cables, two locally made pistols, two live cartridges, one sharp knife, thirty tubes of triple sub glue, Several charms, Thirteen large solar panels, Seven barrels of diesel suspected to have been stolen from network masts.

One Volkswagen sporter bus with Reg. No. BJK 592 XA reconstructed into a diesel tanker, One Toyota Carina II vehicle with Reg. No. RBC 312 JL, Several iron rebar rods.
Nine car tire rims, One fire extinguisher, Eleven plasma TV sets, Several decoders and remotes, Thirteen cement bags, Two reinforced iron doors, Three pumping machines suspected to be used in extracting diesel, Two car batteries, One photo frame, One pack of tiles, Sixteen plastic chairs, Three generators, One aluminum ladder, One wheel barrow, One roll of roofing sheets, Two gas cylinders, One indoor and outdoor AC Unit, Four sumo water pumps, Several iron cutting tools.

According to Disu, the diversity and volume of recovered items highlight the extensive and organised nature of the syndicates, whose activities have caused significant harm to public infrastructure projects and services in the FCT.

Disu emphasised that the FCT Police Command and sister security agencies operate a zero-tolerance policy toward acts of vandalism and theft that undermine public infrastructure and safety.

He said the achievement underscores the unwavering commitment to protecting the critical infrastructure of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Police Boss pledge that the Command will continue to ensure all those responsible for the criminal acts are brought to justice, saying the kind of the enclaves will continue.