Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five suspected vandals in connection with the large-scale destruction and theft of public infrastructure across Abuja, including drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured high-voltage electricity cables, and internet communication cables worth millions of naira. The arrests, which followed coordinated intelligence-led operations across multiple districts, mark a significant breakthrough in the fight against the criminal networks that have been systematically stripping the nation's capital of its critical public assets.
Addressing journalists at the Command Headquarters on Friday, July 31, 2026, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, identified the suspects as Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale, and Dabarani Mujitafa. According to Sanusi, the operations were conducted across Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative Quarters, Lugbe, and Nyanya, where officers recovered a substantial haul of stolen infrastructure items. The CP warned that the activities of the suspects have not only sabotaged the FCT economy but also exposed residents to significant safety risks.
Sanusi outlined the devastating consequences of the vandalism, noting that the removal of drainage covers has contributed to road traffic accidents and injuries to pedestrians. The theft of solar street lights has plunged many areas into darkness, leading to an increase in street crime, while the stealing of high-tension power cables has disrupted electricity supply to entire communities. "The removal of drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured cables used for the transmission of high-voltage electricity, and internet communication cables worth millions of naira by a few unscrupulous individuals for personal gain has directly contributed to road traffic accidents, injuries to pedestrians, increased incidents of street crime in areas plunged into darkness, and the disruption of electricity supply to entire communities through the theft of high-tension power cables," Sanusi stated.
The police commissioner issued a stern warning to scrap dealers and all those involved in the purchase, receipt, or disposal of stolen public infrastructure. "I want to use this opportunity to send a clear warning to all purchasers, receivers, and dealers in stolen public infrastructure that the FCT Police Command is coming after you," he declared. "We have commenced extensive investigations and will not relent until every link in the supply, distribution, and disposal chain of these stolen public assets is identified and brought to justice". Sanusi further revealed that the recovered items would be formally handed over to the Director of Facility Maintenance of the Federal Capital Territory Administration for reinstallation to prevent further accidents and restore damaged public facilities.
In a separate but equally significant development, the FCT Police Command also uncovered a network involved in the illegal production and use of fake diplomatic and official government number plates. Sanusi disclosed that investigations began shortly after he assumed office, following reports of the proliferation of diplomatic and government number plates in the hands of unauthorised persons. The police recovered several fake plates, which were allegedly used by criminals to evade security checks and gain unauthorised access to restricted locations. According to the commissioner, investigations exposed not only the users of the fake plates but also the production and supply chain responsible for their circulation, with some buyers paying between N500,000 and N1.7 million to procure the fraudulent plates.
Sanusi assured residents that the command would not rest until crime and criminality are reduced to the barest minimum. He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious vehicles bearing diplomatic or official number plates, as well as any activities related to the vandalism of public infrastructure. "We have intensified our crime prevention and detection efforts against the vandalism of public and private infrastructure. This criminal activity has not only resulted in significant economic sabotage but has also exposed residents of the Federal Capital Territory to hazards caused by the destruction and theft of public infrastructure," he said. The suspects arrested in connection with the recovered items are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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