The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it has identified one iron smelting company, Abuja Steel Company, as one of the alleged receivers of the stolen manhole covers.
The company is located along Abuja-Kaduna Road, and ‘exhibits of interest’ have been recovered from the company and are in the custody of the police.
Further investigations are ongoing regarding the company’s and others’ involvement in the removal, purchase, and melting of the manhole covers.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Tribune had reported how the combined team of Police and NSCDC operatives arrested and recovered exhibits from the vandals.
The arrested persons are helping the security agencies with useful information about the buyers of the vandalised infrastructure.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Monday in Abuja by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant (Public Communications and New Media) to the FCT Minister, it was stated: “Also, as directed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, replacement of the manhole covers that were removed by the vandals commenced yesterday.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday said its operatives arrested no fewer than 50 suspects for vandalism and theft of manhole covers within the territory.
It was learnt that the suspects were arrested at various “panteka” hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi, and Wuse areas of the territory.
About 25 manhole covers, 3 vehicles, vandalised solar streetlights, galvanised rods used in the construction of flyovers, other tools used in vandalising these government installations, and several other exhibits were also recovered.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday, stating that investigations revealed that the suspects operated as part of a larger network, selling stolen manhole covers to scrap dealers.
He said, “Our operatives conducted a targeted operation, leading to the arrest of FIFTY (50) suspects and the recovery of TWENTY-FIVE (25) manhole covers, THREE (3) vehicles, vandalised solar street lights, galvanised rods used in the construction of flyovers, other tools used in vandalising these government installations, and several other exhibits at various panteka hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi, and Wuse.
“Investigations have revealed that these individuals operate as part of a larger network, selling stolen manhole covers to scrap dealers. This criminal activity endangers the lives of the general public by creating hazards on roads and walkways while undermining the integrity of public infrastructure. Below is a detailed breakdown of the suspects arrested and the exhibits recovered:
“The suspects arrested: Bashir Usman, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sani Isah, Ibrahim Hassan, Mustapha Hassan, Awal Nawan, Umar Aliyu, Auta Umar, Simon Clement, Datti Ibrahim, Mohammed Salim, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Ifeanyi-Chuckwu Emmanuel, Abba Ismail, Najib Abdul, Muhammed Lawal, Rabiu Ibrahim, Adamu Suleiman, Abdulkarim Abdullahi, Haruna Nasiru, Abdul Nai’ja, Josua Steven, Livinus Steven, Ismail Abdullahi, Munir Sada.
“Others are Ibrahim Yahaya, Yahaya Musa, Dahiru Nasiru, Abdullahi Muhammed, Monday Barnabas, Hamisu Iman, Promise Abanonum, Ehieze Emeka, Ehieze Justice, Mohammed Inusa, Tijanni Suleiman, Promise James, Haruna Auwalu, Ayuba Danjuma, Suleiman Abu, Nafiu Ahmmed, Kamalu Junaidu, Zaradeen Yakubu, Abdulhadi Adam, Mohammed Ibrahim, Chukwu Emmanuel, Douglas Yahaya, Mohammed Lawal, Auwal Musa, and Abubakar Kabiru.
“EXHIBITS RECOVERED: Twenty-five (25) galvanised manhole covers; Five (5) solar street lights; Several galvanised poles used in the construction of flyovers; Fifteen (15) streetlight poles cut into smaller pieces; several rolls of high-voltage AEDC cables; two locally made pistols; Two live cartridges; One sharp knife; Thirty (30) tubes of triple sub glue; Several charms; Thirteen (13) large solar panels; Seven (7) barrels of diesel suspected to have been stolen from network masts; One (1) Volkswagen Sporter bus with Reg. No. BJK 592 XA reconstructed into a diesel tanker.
“Also one Toyota Carina II vehicle with Reg. No. RBC 312 JL; Several iron rebar rods; Nine (9) car tyre rims; One (1) fire extinguisher; Eleven (11) plasma TV sets; Several decoders and remotes; Thirteen (13) cement bags; Two reinforced iron doors; Three (3) pumping machines suspected to be used in extracting diesel; Two (2) car batteries; One photo frame; One (1) pack of tiles; Sixteen (16) plastic chairs; Three (3) generators; One (1) aluminium ladder; One (1) wheelbarrow; One (1) roll of roofing sheets; Two (2) gas cylinders; One (1) indoor and outdoor AC unit; one sumo water pump, and Several iron-cutting tools.
“The diversity and volume of recovered items highlight the extensive and organised nature of these syndicates, whose activities have caused significant harm to public infrastructure projects and services in the FCT.
“I want to emphasise that the FCT Police Command and our sister security agencies operate a zero-tolerance policy toward acts of vandalism and theft that undermine public infrastructure and safety. This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the critical infrastructure of the Federal Capital Territory. We will continue to ensure that all those responsible for these criminal acts are brought to justice. The kind of these enclaves will continue.”
In a related development, the acting Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA), while inspecting the vandalised manholes, said, “In this stretch alone, in this area, we have about 13 that were taken out, and because of the nature of our design, the infrastructural design, we have them in the middle of the road. There are sewer lines and stormwater lines. They are load-bearing because they take the vehicular load, so they are specially made for that purpose.
“So replacing them, it takes time and It takes quite a deal of effort. But that is the effort we are doing in replacing them so that the road can be put to proper use again.”
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