14 nabbed over alleged vandalism, illegal mining in FCT

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has arrested 14 suspected vandals and illegal miners during Sallah patrols and surveillance operations conducted at various locations across Abuja. Abuja Metro gathered that the arrests were part of a series of operations carried out by personnel of the command on 24-hour patrol and surveillance duties in compliance with the directive of the FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, to protect critical national assets and infrastructure under the corps’ mandate. Two of the suspects, Samson Anyide, 30, from Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State, and Suleiman Ibrahim, 27, from Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, were arrested along the Utako–Jabi Road while allegedly vandalising crash barriers. Another suspect, Abubakar Isija, 22, from Katsina State, was arrested in Zone 3, Abuja, for allegedly digging out armoured cables from the ground. Items recovered from him included a digger and a saw. Similarly, Shaibu Yusuf, 22, from Funtua in Katsina State, was arrested at GSM Village, Zone 1, Abuja, for allegedly digging up armoured cables. The four suspects have been handed over to the command’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit for further investigation and possible prosecution. Other suspects arrested in connection with alleged illegal mining activities around Gwagwalada Area Council were identified as Amina Cecilia, 35, from Wuna Village; Ibrahim Aisha, 40, from Dukpa Village; Shuaibu Zainab, 50, from Wuna Village; Magaji Tijani, 17, from Garko Village in Garko Local Government Area of Kano State; and Wambe Faith, 14, from Ekwa Village, all within Gwagwalada Area Council. Also arrested were Sule Maridia, 17, from Gwagwalada; Terga Wisdom, 15, from Tarka Village in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State; Ibrahim Hauwa, 12, from Dukpa Village, Gwagwalada; Yakubu Rashidat, 18, from Wuna Village, Gwagwalada Area Council; and Umar Seriki Gambo, 24, from Dukpa Village, Gwagwalada Area Council. Speaking on the arrests on Tuesday, the FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, expressed disappointment over what he described as the “unpatriotic acts” of the suspects, noting that some criminal elements remained unrepentant despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to sanitise the capital city. Odumosu warned individuals involved in criminal activities in the FCT to either abandon such acts or face arrest, adding that those engaged in one-chance robberies, phone theft and bag snatching were being monitored by the corps’ covert operatives.