Police in the Federal Capital Territory have uncovered the criminal network behind the vandalism and theft of public infrastructure in Abuja, as it steps up efforts to dismantle those driving the destruction and illegal trade in government assets across the capital.
The breakthrough followed coordinated police operations across Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative, Lugbe and Nyanya, which led to the recovery of stolen drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured electricity cables and internet communication cables, as well as the arrest of five suspects.
The suspects includes, Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale and Dabarani Mujitafa.
In a separate operation, the Command also uncovered the unauthorized use and production of diplomatic and official government number plates allegedly used by criminals to evade security checks and perpetrate crimes within the FCT. Police said investigations had exposed not only the unauthorized users but also the production and supply chain through which the plates were obtained.
Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, who disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters on Friday, said the Command had intensified efforts against infrastructure vandalism because of its far-reaching consequences on public safety and essential services.
“The FCT Police Command under my leadership, has intensified its crime prevention and detection efforts against the vandalism of public and private infrastructure. This criminal activity has not only resulted in significant economic sabotage but has also exposed residents of the Federal Capital Territory to hazards caused by the destruction and theft of public infrastructure.
“The removal of drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured cables used for the transmission of high-voltage electricity, and internet communication cables worth millions of naira by a few unscrupulous individuals for personal gain has directly contributed to road traffic accidents, injuries to pedestrians, increased incidents of street crime in areas plunged into darkness, and the disruption of electricity supply to entire communities through the theft of high-tension power cables.”
Sanusi said the Command had widened its investigations to dismantle the entire network responsible for the theft and disposal of public infrastructure.
“I want to use this opportunity to send a clear warning to all purchasers, receivers, and dealers in stolen public infrastructure that the FCT Police Command is coming after you. We have commenced extensive investigations and will not relent until every link in the supply, distribution, and disposal chain of these stolen public assets is identified and brought to justice.”
He said the recovered public infrastructure would be formally handed over to the Director of Facility Maintenance, Federal Capital Territory Administration, for necessary action towards its reinstallation.
Speaking on the recovery of unauthorized government number plates, the Commissioner said the operation was launched after the Command noticed the growing proliferation of diplomatic and official registration numbers in the hands of unauthorized persons.
“Upon my assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, my attention was drawn to the proliferation and unauthorized use of diplomatic and official government license plate numbers by unauthorized individuals. I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend, which revealed that these individuals use such plate numbers as a cover to perpetrate crimes within the Federal Capital Territory and evade detection and arrest.
“Our investigations uncovered not only the unauthorized users of these license plate numbers but also the production and supply chain through which they were obtained.”
Sanusi said the recovered diplomatic and official number plates were confiscated from different parts of the FCT, while suspects arrested in connection with the recoveries remained in police custody and would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to reducing crime across the FCT, assuring residents that efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in infrastructure vandalism and other organised crimes would continue.
