The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has apprehended a notorious streetlight vandal who had been targeting streetlights near the Ugandan Embassy in the Central Business District of Abuja.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Abubakar Abdulmumuni from Hong Local Government Area in Adamawa State, was caught red-handed around 2:30 am after a tip-off about ongoing vandalism led to a 24-hour surveillance operation.
The FCT Command’s operatives intervened as Abdulmumuni and his accomplice, who remains at large, were in the act of digging up armoured cables after disconnecting the streetlights from the power source, causing a blackout in the area. The escapee is currently being pursued by the authorities.
According to the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, the suspect is a repeat offender who had been previously charged with similar crimes but somehow returned to the streets to continue his activities.
Dr. Odumosu emphasized the importance of harsher penalties for such crimes, saying, “I want to reiterate once more the need to impose stiffer punishments on convicted vandals and other sundry crimes as this will serve as deterrent to other would-be criminals.”
Dr. Odumosu further affirmed that the FCT Command remains committed to protecting public infrastructure, pledging to continue the fight against vandalism: “The Command under my leadership will continue to do everything within our ability to ensure that public facilities are protected from criminals, we will leave no stone unturned in our fight against vandalism,” he assured.
The Commandant also appealed to FCT residents for their cooperation in providing credible information regarding criminal activities, assuring the public that the identities of informants would be kept confidential.
“The war against vandalism is a collective responsibility, we cannot do it alone as we cannot be everywhere at the same time; we therefore depend on credible intelligence to help in not just arresting vandals but ensuring that they cannot carry out their acts of criminality,” he concluded.
Among the items seized from the suspect were a shovel, pliers, digger, spanner, and screwdriver, which were reportedly used for the act.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
