At least five members of a criminal gang vandalising Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, CNAI, in the Federal Capital Territory have been arrested for vandalising bridges in the FCT.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, said the arrest followed credible information and surveillance mounted by a crack squad of the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, DII, from the national headquarters of the corps.
The squad, with support from other stakeholders, recovered from the suspects 5 inches galvanized pipes (5 mm), angle irons and a hand saw used in carrying out the destruction.
A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu, disclosed that most of the suspects were artisans whose activities are domiciled around the crime scene which is located close to the headquarters of Federal Mortgage Bank, in the central business district.
Odumosu explained that the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, had directed operatives of the Corps to redouble their efforts in ending the menace of incessant vandalism and theft of manhole covers on roads in the FCT.
Following this directive, he explained that officers and men of the Corps immediately evolved new measures and renewed determinations to protect CNAI in the country nationwide, a move he said resulted in the arrest of the suspects who confessed to having carried out the dastardly at night.
The NSCDC spokesman added that the corps has equally intensified collaborations and engagements with other security agencies, stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians and it has started yielding positive results.
The arrested suspects are Abdullahi Bello, 18, Suleja LGA, Niger State, Julius David Madaki, 18, Sanga LGA, Kaduna State, Gambo Clement, 18, Sanga LGA, Kaduna State, Sadiq Abdullahi, 24, Billiri LGA, Gombe State and Abdulaziz Aliyu 25, Sanga LGA Kaduna State.
According to Odumosu, “A discreet investigation into the matter has commenced and would be followed by diligent prosecution of the suspects.
“The Corps is on the trail of other members of the criminal gang who are currently at large and very soon, it’s assured that, they will be arrested and brought to justice.
“Protection of critical national assets and infrastructure is the core mandate of NSCDC and the corps is determined to deliver alongside other mandates to justify its existence.”
The corps therefore warned vandals of bridges to desist from the nefarious act of vandalising galvanised pipes and aluminium used in the construction and reinforcement of bridges or risk arrest and possible jail terms as security is beefed up around those public utilities by operatives of the corps.