FCT declares state of emergency on facility vandalism

Owing to the spate of public property vandalism across the city, The
FCT Administration promises to get to the root of the activities of
the vandals especially by fishing out who their sponsors are and
seriously deal with them.

Speaking to the media while touring the FCT facilities after his
appointment, the coordinator of the Abuja metropolitan management
council (AMMC), T. Umar Shuaibu disclosed that the FCT Minister, Malam
Muhamad Musa Bello will do all he can to ensure that the city is
sanitized of all vandals of public infrastructure such as
streetlights, manholes, bridge tails (kerbs) among others are brought
to book. He assured the residents of uppermost continuous security and
that the city will always glow at night with bright lights.

The Coordinator, further stated that it is very embarrassing that the
administration struggles hard as well as spend huge sums of money to
ensure that the streetlights are replaced daily on major streets
within the city from Life Camp – JT Useni Street, Abubakar Koko
Street, Sabo Ago Street up to the longest street in Abuja –

Ahmadu Bello Way past Assembly Quarters to Apo Gudu Axis while some
nonentities and hooligans are busy struggling to run down the
government as they vandalize the electrical cables and other
accessories thus running the Administration down by making the major
streets dark at night which has often caused so much embarrassment to
visitors arriving the city at night thereby blaming the FCT
Administration for not doing anything and also increasing rate of
insecurity.

Tpl Shuaibu pleaded with the unemployed or low income earners in the
city to shun activities of the bourgeoisies but get involved in only
truthful and meaningful ventures to earn money. He however said that,
residents should avoid patronizing such stolen goods. He urged
everyone to report suspected individuals to the security agencies.

Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command, has said that fulfillment of its
commitment are to strengthen security around critical infrastructure
and safeguard them from being vandalized, also to ensure that arrested
suspected cables or vandals are arrested and made to face the law.

The command said this while briefing the Press, on the recent arrest
of vasndals in the FCT. the police Public relations officer DSP
Anjuguri J. Manzah disclosed that following a tipoff, police
operatives attached to Kubwa Division on patrol intercepted and
arrested Sunday Etiese (35 years) and Joseph Thomas (24) of Mpape
while attempting to vandalize street light cables along Outer Northern
Expressway Kubwa (ONEX).

In an interview with the suspects, the suspects confessed to have
committed the crime.

According to them, they have vandalized cables in the area on two
separate occasions and were paid N14,000 each by their master (now at
large) for every operation.

Meanwhile, the suspects have been transferred to the Command Criminal
Intelligent Department for discreet investigation.

In another development, the Police arrested three suspects who
specialize in vandalizing Nitel Cables, the suspects were arrested
around Power House Junction Asokoro while burning some of the
vandalized cables. However, efforts have been intensified to arrest
their cohorts and receiver.

Meanwhile, the suspects and exhibits will soon be transferred to the
Command Criminal Investigation Intelligence Department too for further
discreet investigation.

The suspects revealed that after burning the cables, they sell 1 kilo
of the melted wire for N900 each which is further recycled by the
buyers for other uses.

For now, the FCT, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council will
intensify on publicity and sensitization to the public to desist from
destroying the public infrastructure meant for the comfort of everyone
and attitudinal change to reverse the trend as we join hands to build
a befitting garden city of our dream.

Idu Jude Abuja