The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, says it arrested 112 suspects for alleged vandalism of critical national assets across Abuja in 2025.

The FCT Commandant of the corps, Mr Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this in an interview with the source on Tuesday in Abuja.

Odumosu said the arrests followed intensified patrols, intelligence-led operations and surveillance aimed at curbing the destruction and theft of public infrastructure in the nation’s capital.

Nature of Offences

He explained that the suspects were arrested for offences including the vandalism and theft of:

• Telecommunications cables and fibre-optic lines

• Streetlight installations

• Road crash barriers

• Armoured electrical cables

• Public billboards and other utilities

According to him, such criminal activities have continued to undermine government investments and disrupt essential services in the FCT.

Monthly Arrest Pattern

Odumosu noted that arrest figures varied across the year, with a surge recorded in the third quarter. He said September recorded the highest number of arrests, while fewer cases were reported in the early months of the year.

He added that several suspects were also linked to organised vandalism rings operating at night and during adverse weather conditions.

Prosecution and Convictions

The commandant said legal processes were ongoing, with 15 cases currently in court, four under investigation, and five convictions already secured.

He stressed that the NSCDC would continue to pursue diligent prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.

Security and Government Perspective

Odumosu lamented that vandalism remained a major setback to infrastructure development, despite heavy government spending on public utilities.

He reaffirmed the corps’ mandate to protect critical national assets and warned that offenders would face the full weight of the law.

Call for Public Support

The commandant called on residents of the FCT to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information, stressing that security was a collective responsibility.

“Protecting public infrastructure requires the cooperation of everyone. We urge residents to report suspicious activities in their communities,” he said.

Background

Vandalism of public infrastructure has remained a recurring challenge in the FCT, leading to service disruptions and increased repair costs for government and service providers.

Security agencies have repeatedly warned that the destruction of public assets poses risks to public safety and economic stability.