By Abdulkareem Adeyemi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command has arrested 50 suspects involved in the theft of manhole covers, streetlights, and other public infrastructure across Abuja.
Commissioner of Police Tunji Disu, while parading the suspects on Monday, disclosed that the arrests followed coordinated raids in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi, and Wuse, conducted in collaboration with sister security agencies.
Recovered items include 25 manhole covers, five solar streetlights, 15 streetlight poles, galvanized flyover poles, high-voltage AEDC cables, 13 large solar panels, seven barrels of stolen diesel, iron cutting tools, two locally made pistols, and vehicles used for illegal operations.
Disu described the suspects as part of an organized syndicate that targets public installations for scrap resale.
He reaffirmed the FCT Police Command’s zero-tolerance policy on vandalism, stressing that law enforcement remains committed to protecting public assets and ensuring public safety.
The suspects are currently in custody and under investigation, with prosecution expected as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle the network behind the crimes.
