NSCDC Arrests 3 Suspected Vandals Near Abuja Stadium

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has arrested three suspected vandals between the National Stadium and the National Hospital on Constitution Avenue, Abuja.

The suspects were apprehended by the tactical squad of the national assets and infrastructure (CNAI) department of the command during a routine patrol aimed at ensuring the safety of residents, protection of lives and security of public infrastructure across the FCT during the festive period.

According to a statement on Monday by the FCT Command Public Relations Officer, DSC Monica Ojobi (Ag.), the suspects were caught in the act while trying to cart away vandalised government property.

The arrested suspects were identified as Abdulsalam Aminu, 25,Mustapha Sale, 26, and Suleiman Sani, 19. All three are males from Ingawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects included road crash barriers of different sizes and one sledgehammer, believed to have been used in the vandalisation of the infrastructure.

Ojobi noted that investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the outcome would determine the level of culpability of the suspects and the appropriate legal action to be taken against them.

Commenting on the arrest, the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, said the Command was determined to bring an end to what he described as the “rascality of vandals” in the nation’s capital.

“We are aware that these criminals always take advantage of festive seasons to perpetrate their heinous acts, that is the reason we mounted guard, waiting for them in order to beat them to their game,” Odumosu said.

He lamented the persistent destruction of public infrastructure, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine government efforts aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens.

“It is disheartening that government’s efforts to provide essential infrastructure to make life meaningful are being jettisoned by some unscrupulous elements busy vandalising these assets for their own selfish gains, and this must be stopped,” the Commandant stated.

Odumosu reiterated that the protection of critical national assets remained a core responsibility of the Corps, stressing that the NSCDC would not relent in safeguarding public infrastructure across the FCT.

“It is our responsibility to protect critical infrastructure and amenities such as crash barriers, roads, bridges, manhole covers, telecommunication and power installations, among others, and we will not relent in our efforts to protect these national assets from criminals,” he said.

He further assured residents that the Command was fully committed to protecting all critical national assets and infrastructure under its purview “come rain, come shine.”

He warned criminal elements in the territory to desist from sabotaging government efforts or be prepared to face the full weight of the law, noting that theft and vandalism of critical national assets would not be treated with levity.

Odumosu also appealed to residents of the FCT to support the Corps by providing timely and credible intelligence that would assist in flushing out criminals and vandals from the territory.