The Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Police Command has said that it arrested 31 suspects and recovered stolen public infrastructure worth over N1 billion.
Police Commissioner Olatunji Disu disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday covered by Persecondnews.
According to him, 16 of the suspects have been arraigned in court on charges of criminal conspiracy and mischief, specifically for damaging public roads, navigable channels, and electrical installations.
The CP said the offences were punishable by life imprisonment, a fine, or both, under Section 332 of the Penal Code.
Disu listed the recovered items as 115 manhole and drainage covers, five motorcycles, electrical transformer parts, and industrial scaffolding.
In addition, the police recovered bundles of armored and insulated cables, copper wires, and fiber optic cables from the suspects, according to Disu.
The police also recovered 29 industrial/solar batteries, solar panels, various stolen infrastructure materials, 75 bags of cement, security doors, and three 5kg gas cylinders, among other items.
The successful arrest and recovery, Disu said, were the result of “Operation Sweep”, a joint task force initiative involving the police and other FCT security agencies.
The police boss said the operation was a decisive enforcement, targeting vandalism, destruction and illegal sales of critical infrastructure to “pantaker” operators and other illicit buyers.
“The ongoing intensive enforcement operation which commenced on January 16, had been on a daily basis, both day and night.”
Disu explained that “Operation Sweep” had resulted in raids on several major scrap markets, or “pantaker” markets, in the FCT, including those in Dei-Dei, Kabusa, Dei-Dei Outward Lane, Zuba, Mpape, Jabi, and Nyanya.
The CP said the Abuja Markets Management Limited(AMML), under the directive of the FCT Minister, had mandated all partaker market operators to report for profiling and registration.
According to Disu, the operation aimed to tackle the persistent problem of vandalism in the FCT, reiterating that scavenging activities remained prohibited in the territory.
He expressed appreciation for the collaboration and support provided by other security agencies in the FCT, acknowledging their crucial role in the success of the Joint Task Force operation.
The FCT’s intensified crackdown on crime can be attributed to the FCT Minister’s uncompromising stance on law and order.
This zero-tolerance policy has emboldened the command to take decisive action against criminal elements, reflecting the minister’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the territory.
Persecondnews recalls that Mr Nyesom Wike had on December 12, 2024, donated 50 operational vehicles to security agencies in Abuja to boost their capacity to combat crime and improve security in the nation’s capital.
He urged them to launch targeted operations to flush out criminals from their hideouts across the territory, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for all.
The minister urged the security agencies not to give criminals space or allow them to strike before they go after them.
He made a similar donation in July 2024, when he distributed 50 operational vehicles to security agencies.
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