NSCDC Arrests 30 Suspected Infrastructure Vandals in Abuja

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested 30 suspected vandals for allegedly attacking critical national assets and infrastructure across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between January and June 2026.

The FCT Commandant of the corps, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while reviewing the command's operations during the first half of the year.

According to him, the arrests reflect the command's intensified efforts to curb vandalism and safeguard public infrastructure across the territory.

Odumosu said the command recorded arrests in several operations carried out across the FCT, with seven suspects arrested in January, two in March, four in April, five in May and 10 in June.

He explained that three suspects were apprehended for vandalising crash barriers along Constitution Avenue in Abuja's Central Area.

During the operation, security operatives recovered 12 vandalised crash barriers and eight poles.

The commandant said operatives also recovered a vandalised electricity transformer during an operation in Dakibiyu, Jabi District, where three suspects were arrested.

In a separate operation, another three suspects were arrested for allegedly vandalising electricity transformers, with six transformer components recovered before they could be taken away.

The command also arrested suspected illegal telecommunications cable operators carrying out unauthorised cabling activities in the Sunnyvale area of the FCT.

According to Odumosu, two other suspects were apprehended around the Transcorp Bridge while allegedly attempting to vandalise telecommunications infrastructure.

The NSCDC boss said two suspects were arrested for allegedly vandalising fibre-optic cables around Leisure Court in Lugbe.

In April, operatives also arrested two suspected iron rod vandals in the Central Area, while two others were apprehended in Utako over the alleged vandalism of armoured cables.

Another three suspects were arrested in Zone 3 for similar offences involving armoured cables.

Odumosu further disclosed that a 25-year-old suspect was arrested around Aco Estate, Lugbe, while allegedly vandalising streetlight input cables.

He added that operatives also arrested a 26-year-old suspect in Wuse Zone 6 for allegedly vandalising an electricity pole, recovering six lengths of electric iron and one pole hanger during the operation.

The commandant commended officers for their efforts in recovering large quantities of vandalised public infrastructure and reiterated the corps' commitment to protecting critical national assets.

He said the command would continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance and enforcement operations to combat vandalism across the FCT.

"Although the command has recorded notable successes, we are not resting on our oars. We will continue to intensify surveillance, strengthen intelligence gathering and sustain enforcement operations to rid the FCT of vandals and other criminal elements," Odumosu said.

He added that the command remains committed to protecting public infrastructure and ensuring that those responsible for acts of vandalism are brought to justice.