The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abuja says it arrested 15 people for telecommunications cable theft, vandalism of critical infrastructure and other offences.

The NSCDC FCT command disclosed this in a statement by its spokeswoman, Comfort Okomanyi, on Wednesday.

The statement said FCT commandant Olusola Odumosu described the arrest as part of the ongoing process by the command to sanitise the country’s capital.

The commandant said the suspects were arrested in different parts of the FCT during routine night operations.

Mr Odumosu said that the suspects were arrested for alleged offences such as vandalism of public property, stealing, and snatching of bags and phones under the guise of scavenging.

The commandant listed the items recovered from the suspects to include iron rods, one Lexus ES 330 vehicle used in conveying stolen items, vandalised transmission cables, and a climbing belt. Other items were a hammer, screwdriver, three measuring tapes, four spanners, a compass, a helmet, three reflective jackets, a hacksaw, sets of ladies’ earrings, bags, one cart and one pumping machine.

He said after the completion of investigations by the command, the suspects would be prosecuted in court to serve as a deterrent to others. The commandant decried criminal elements engaged in the degradation of critical assets and public utilities, thereby causing potential risks to public safety.

“The act of vandalism is not only a crime but also endangers the reliable functioning of critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructures are vital for the functioning of our nation, and any encumbrance on them poses a great risk to our security, safety and other essential services,” Mr Odumosu said.

(NAN)