Mr. Olusola Odumosu, the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, shared these figures during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
Odumosu mentioned that 20 suspects got arrested for stealing manhole covers and vandalizing critical national assets and infrastructure. Additionally, five suspects were apprehended in September for allegedly vandalizing electrical cables, 14 for alleged vandalism of other public property, and two for allegedly stealing a television.
The commandant stated that among the other suspects, 28 individuals were nabbed for alleged railway vandalism and destruction of other critical national assets. Furthermore, in October, 11 people were apprehended for engaging in illegal mining, and December witnessed the parade of 11 illegal miners and two vandals.
Under his leadership, Odumosu mentioned that the command had taken action against three Private Guard Companies for various offenses, including operating without a license and refusing to renew their license.
He noted the command's readiness to intensify efforts in 2024 to crackdown on vandals, illegal Private Guard Companies operators, and miscreants within the FCT.
It was earlier reported that the Minister of Solid Mineral, Dele Alake, on December 12 blamed unnamed ‘Powerful Nigerians’ for the illegal mining activities and acts of terrorism going on in different parts of the country.
Alake made the allegation on Tuesday when he led a delegation of top officials of the ministry to defend the 2024, budget estimates before the House Committee on Solid Minerals at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
As part of the effort adopted to curb illegal mining across the country, the Federal Government, Alake had disclosed has put up inter-ministerial measures to fight the menace to protect the nation’s endowed natural resources.
