By Oluwatosin Maliki
In a recent report, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory Command, revealed that it arrested a total of 82 suspected vandals and 22 illegal miners in 5 months, starting from August till date.
This was disclosed by the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Olusola Odumosu, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Odumosu said that among the arrested, 20 individuals were apprehended in connection with manhole cover theft and vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure.
Also, he stated that five suspects were detained in September for alleged vandalism of electrical cables, while 14 were nabbed for alleged vandalism of other public property and two others for alleged television theft.
Furthermore, the commandant said that the other suspects were arrested for various crimes including 28 persons for alleged railway vandalism and destruction of other critical national assets.
The statement read, “Eleven were apprehended in October for illegal mining. December recorded parade of 11 illegal miners and two vandals.”
Speaking on the achievements of the agency, Odumosu noted that the command, under his leadership, had sanctioned three Private Guard Companies for different offences such as operating without licence and refusing to renew licence.
Expressing optimism for the new year, he said that the command was prepared to intensify efforts in 2024 to clamp down on vandals, illegal PGC operators and miscreants within the FCT.