The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified crackdown on streetlight vandals across the capital city.
Briefing journalists on Friday in Abuja, Chief Felix Obuah, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), said that 16 suspects have been detained within the last seven days.
He added that five suspects were arrested with the support of local vigilantes and hunters on Thursday alone, while two others were on the run.
Obuah urged residents of the FCT to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around streetlight facilities to security agencies.
He said that public participation was key to the protection of public facilities, particularly streetlights.
“We have already enlisted the support of local vigilante and hunters’ groups, which led to Thursday’s clampdown on the five suspects.”
He warned that any individual involved in vandalising government property would be prosecuted, including the buyers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAM) reports that the crackdown of the vandals has become necessary following rising concerns over continued vandalism of newly installed solar-powered streetlights in some parts of the city.
One of the contractors executing streetlight installations, Mr Aderemi Rashid, had reported that some of the company’s equipment were stolen by unkwown persons.
“The equipment used indicates a high level of sophistication beyond ordinary miscreants, suggesting possible involvement of well-equipped perpetrators,” he said.
NAN recalls that the AMMC coordinator had, on Oct. 29, announced the arrest of an expatriate contractor for allegedly vandalising streetlight facilities.
Obuah added that the expatriate had been handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
According to him, the expatriate involvement may be part of a ploy to secure the contracts for the restoration of the vandalised streetlight facilities.
He said that AMMC would continue its crackdown on the vandals and urged residents to report any suspicious activities related to public properties across the city for quick response.
