Metro
Police Raid Scrap Markets, Arrest Suspects Over ₦1bn Theft of Manhole Covers, Transformers in Abuja
- FCT Police arrest 31 over ₦1bn infrastructure theft.
- Stolen manhole covers, transformers recovered in Abuja.
- Authorities vow crackdown on vandals, illegal scrap trade.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 31 suspects involved in the vandalism and theft of public infrastructure worth over ₦1 billion in Abuja.
The arrests followed a series of coordinated raids on major scrap yards and illegal markets across the city.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, made this known during a press briefing on Friday, where he highlighted the achievements of “Operation Sweep,” a special task force established to combat the destruction of critical public assets.
The operation was launched following the directive of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who convened a Core-Security Committee Meeting on January 13, 2025, to tackle the escalating threat of infrastructure theft.
As part of the initiative, the FCT administration ordered a two-week shutdown of all scrap yards, commonly known as ‘Pantaker’ markets, to disrupt the trade in stolen public assets.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- 45% of Nigerian Girls Become Mothers Before 18 — World Bank
- ECOWAS Faces Historic Defection as Three West African Nations Withdraw
- Netanyahu to Meet Trump at White House Next Week
A joint task force, consisting of the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Civil Defence, DSS, Immigration, FRSC, NDLEA, and other agencies, carried out extensive raids across multiple locations, including Dei-Dei, Nyanya, Zuba, Mpape, Kabusa, Jabi, and Gwarinpa.
The operation led to the recovery of a significant quantity of stolen public assets, including 115 manhole and drainage covers, industrial solar batteries, solar panels, fiber optic cables, transformer components, and armoured cables.
Other recovered items included 75 bags of cement, security doors, electric changeovers, vehicle chassis number templates, fake Mercedes-Benz chassis numbers, motorcycles, water pumping machines, and power generators.
Officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed that many of the recovered electrical components had been stolen from power stations, causing blackouts in areas such as Dawaki, Mpape, Nyanya, and Karu.
Sixteen of the 31 suspects have already been charged to court for criminal conspiracy, vandalism, and receiving stolen property, offenses punishable under Section 332 of the Penal Code.
Those charged include Abubakar Adamu, Emmanuel John Eze, Emeka Eziekel, Ahmad Suleiman, Dennis Chiagozie, Ismail Usman, Victor Ezeokoye, Izundu Videlis, Alex Okechukwu Eddy, Jonathan R. Obi, Simon Samuel, Mubarak Lawal, Okafor Ekene, Usman Lawal, Shuaibu Yahaya, and James Edu.
The Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) has directed all scrap dealers to report for profiling and registration on February 5, 2025, at Wuse Zone 6. Meanwhile, scavengers, known locally as “Baban Bola,” remain strictly banned in the FCT.
Authorities have warned business operators to verify the source of all goods they acquire, as ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse. Selling, receiving, or storing stolen government property will lead to immediate arrest, prosecution, and business closure.
FURTHER READING
- [VIDEO] Commotion Rocks PDP BoT Meeting as Faction Confront Each Other
- NiDCOM Prepares for Deportation of Nigerians from U.S
- BREAKING: Sowore Pleads Not Guilty to Cybercrime Charges Filed by Police IG
Security agencies have vowed to continue spot-checks on warehouses and market stalls to ensure compliance.
The FCT Commissioner of Police expressed appreciation to all security agencies involved, reaffirming that the crackdown on vandalism will continue relentlessly.
Residents have been urged to report any suspicious activities related to infrastructure theft to the police or the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). With the estimated value of recovered infrastructure exceeding ₦1 billion, authorities say this marks one of the largest anti-vandalism operations in FCT history.
Click here to watch video of the Week
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at ekohotblog@gmail.com. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
