Civil Defense FCT Command Arrests Suspects For Vandalism, Illegal Mining 

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Capital Territory Commandant, Olusola Odumosu 11 suspects have been arrested for illegal Mining, Vandalism, and Scavenging in different parts of the territory.

Parading the suspects at the FCT Command Headquarters, in Abuja, Odumosu reaffirmed his commitment to smoke out Vandals and other criminals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

This is in a bid to ensure peace, combat the spate of crime, and safeguard all critical assets and Infrastructures under the new FCT administration.

Odumosu said; “Let me relay unequivocally that the protection of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructures in the FCT is not negotiable.

“As the lead agency saddled with this responsibility under the law, we will relentlessly discharge our duties without compromise.”

Based on this resolve, the Command has effected the arrest of these 11 suspects out of which 5 are suspected illegal miners, 4 are suspected vandals of public assets and infrastructures and 2 are suspected scavengers.

“Upon sighting our team, a lot of them took to their heels but this effort will be sustained with more reinforcement to stop their existence in that location,” Odumosu said.

The suspected illegal miners were arrested by the Mines and Steel Development unit of the Command after a tip-off for engaging in illegal excavation activities which have led to the vandalism and destruction of critical infrastructures such as transmission cables, transformers, and degradation of a part of Katampe Extension where they were picked up.

However, during a search operation conducted in their huts, 5 cartons of tiles were found and an item suspected to be a used explosive bottle which will be further investigated.

The suspects arrested for illegal mining activities are; Abubakar Suleman, 43yrs (M) from Kastina State, Sanusi Abubakar, 21years (M) from Kano State, Abdullahi Musa, 18yrs (M) from Kano State, Adamu Hashiru, 31years (M) from Bauchi State, and Ibrahim Abdullahi, 30years from Bauchi State.

Other Suspects arrested for Vandalism of Government Infrastructures and Scavenging are; Ayu Isimailu (M), 25years who hails from Gombe State, Micheal Joseph (M), 30 years from Kaduna State, Solomon Leo (M), 40years from Kaduna State, Aliyu Shamsudeen (M), 18years from Plateau State, Kashim Mustapha (M), 45years from Oyo State and Onyeishi Monday (M) 43years from Delta State.

Odumosu said; “We have commenced thorough investigations to unravel their level of involvement in the offenses charged.

“Be rest assured that those found culpable would be prosecuted and if otherwise, be set free after due diligence is observed and by the extant laws.”

Odumosu promised a continuous collaboration with other security agencies and solicited consistent information and actionable Intelligence from the Public to rid the FCT of unscrupulous elements sabotaging the efforts of the government.

Mercy Chukwudiebere