The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested eight individuals over allegations of vandalising streetlights in Abuja. The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, made the announcement while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Abuja over the weekend.
According to Sanusi, operatives attached to the Central Police Station arrested the suspects during a routine anti-crime patrol within the city centre. The eight suspects identified are Sani Musa, Ashiru Adamu, Markus Joseph, Suleman Ibrahim, Jamilu Umar, Usman Aliyu, Uzairu Sani and Shafiu Bala.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were members of a criminal gang specialising in the vandalism and theft of public and private infrastructure across the Central Business District, Maitama, Wuse, Garki and Asokoro districts of the FCT. Five long streetlight poles, which had allegedly been cut at their bases and stolen, were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.
The commissioner confirmed that the suspects and recovered exhibits were in police custody and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. He also urged residents of the FCT to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities to the nearest police station or through the command's emergency lines: 08032003913 and 08061581938.