Two vandals of railway infrastructure and 11 illegal miners have been apprehended by men of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to the FCT Commandant of the agency, Olusola Odumosu, the arrest was part of efforts to prevent vandalism and protect critical national assets and infrastructure.
Odumosu disclosed that the railway defacers were apprehended by the operatives of the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Unit of the command.
He said they were arrested for willfully vandalising rail tracks and traffic lights in Wuye District of the territory.
Similarly, the command, in partnership with the Nigerian Army, arrested eleven suspects involved in illegal mining activities at Izom, a community located at the boundary of the FCT and Niger State.
While parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters, Odumosu, said that the proactive measures of the command would serve as a deterrent to other criminals within the territory.
“Our effort is geared towards combating various forms of criminality, particularly vandalism of critical national assets and other public infrastructure, illegal mining activities, and among others within the FCT.
“We will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for vandalism, and there is no plan to retreat on this mission as they must all be brought to book.
“I have vowed that there is no hiding place for evil perpetrators, so in this vein, active efforts are underway to apprehend their masterminds who are still at large,” Odumosu warned.
Similarly, the NSCDC also said it has arrested 10 persons in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State for alleged oil theft.
The Commandant of NSCDC in Rivers State, Basil Igwebueze, made this disclosure while parading the suspects before newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, saying the corps also impounded a total of 15 vehicles used by the suspects for the illicit activity.
He further stated that a total of 2,345 personnel had been deployed to strategic areas to protect critical national assets and infrastructure during the Yuletide and to ensure there were no security breaches within the period.
According to him, the corps’ anti-vandals unit are working relentlessly to curtail the nefarious activities of illegal oil bunkerers and vandals in the state.
Igwebueze stated, “The Anti-vandal Unit of the command arrested these 10 suspects and 15 vehicles were also impounded altogether. It should also be noted that these arrests were made possible through credible intelligence received which made our personnel swing into action without delay.”
He said that though the illegal oil bunkerers had devised another method by loading locally refined petroleum products in cellophane bags and concealing them in a special way, the eagle eyes of the command would fish them out while those operating illegal bunkering sites would definitely be smoked out without compromise.
Igwebueze further disclosed that the suspects would be charged in court after a diligent and thorough investigation.
The state NSCDC Commandant further gave an annual scorecard for the year under review, noting that the number of arrests made were 176, 292 suspects and 17 convictions.