The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified crackdown on streetlight vandals across the capital city.

Briefing journalists on Friday in Abuja, Felix Obuah, the coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), said 16 suspects have been detained within the last seven days.

He added that five suspects were arrested with the support of local vigilantes and hunters on Thursday, while two others were on the run.

Mr Obuah urged residents of the FCT to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around streetlight facilities to security agencies.

He said public participation was key to the protection of public facilities, particularly streetlights.

“We have already enlisted the support of local vigilante and hunters’ groups, which led to Thursday’s clampdown on the five suspects,” said Mr Obuah.

He warned that any individual involved in vandalising government property would be prosecuted, including the buyers.

The crackdown on the vandals has become necessary following rising concerns over continued vandalism of newly installed solar-powered streetlights in some parts of the city.

One of the contractors executing streetlight installations, Aderemi Rashid, had reported that unknown persons stole some of the company’s equipment.

“The equipment used indicates a high level of sophistication beyond ordinary miscreants, suggesting possible involvement of well-equipped perpetrators,” he said.

The AMMC coordinator had, on October 29, announced the arrest of an expatriate contractor for allegedly vandalising streetlight facilities.

Mr Obuah added that the expatriate had been handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.

According to him, the expatriate involvement may be part of a ploy to secure the contracts to restore the vandalised streetlight facilities.

He said that AMMC would continue its crackdown on the vandals and urged residents to report any suspicious activities related to public properties across the city for quick response.

(NAN)