The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has given a marching order to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC) and other security agencies to intensify efforts in arresting and prosecuting people that have been vandalising public properties in the territory.
Speaking today, September 21 while receiving in audience, management team of the NSCDC led by its Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the minister expressed concern over the spate of vandalisation of critical national assets in the FCT, including telecommunication ducts, manhole covers, street lights, solar panels at traffic intersections and some facilities at the Abuja light rail project.
He emphasized the need for the NSCDC to work in conjunction with other security agencies to not only arrest the vandals but their sponsors.
“It is a sophisticated and complicated value chain. So far the arrest of the vandals have been at the lowest level, the street urchins.
“But I think it is very important now that your operations and investigations really need to identify the real culprits and beneficiaries. Where are the vandalized items sold? Where is the economic value chain? Because the amount of damage is enormous. It affects us all as a people because needed resources are recycled and recycled just to replace vandalized equipment.”
He commended the NSCDC for the establishment of a Rapid Response squad as well as an all-female squads while also commending the activities of the FCT Command for its activities within the FCT Security Committee.
The new Commandant General had commended the Minister for all the support the NSCDC has enjoyed from the FCTA even as he called for a robust partnership that involves more information sharing between the two organisations for the overall safety of all residents of the FCT.
He said that as a means of putting an end to armed banditry, the NSCDC has launched an all women squad to focus on bandits that specialize in the kidnap and rape of women, while more attention is being given to secure public schools as well as farmers and farms across the country.
