Cable theft throws FCT communities into darkness
Many communities have been reportedly thrown into darkness as cable and transformers’ vandals continue to reign supreme in some area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Our reporter, who has been monitoring the activities of the vandals, reports that hardly will a day pass without incidence of cables, transformers or high-tension wire stolen in […]
Cable theft throws FCT communities into darkness
Many communities have been reportedly thrown into darkness as cable and transformers’ vandals continue to reign supreme in some area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Our reporter, who has been monitoring the activities of the vandals, reports that hardly will a day pass without incidence of cables, transformers or high-tension wire stolen in the most affected area councils.
Our reporter further observed that such incidences were high in Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Kuje area councils.
Residents of the affected communities wondered why the activities of the vandals continue to thrive despite reported arrest of some of the culprits.
Abuja Metro reports that barely a week after some suspected cable vandals were arrested in Kwali Area Council, another three suspects have been arrested with stolen cables in the same area council.
A police source, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the arrest of the three suspects to our reporter through the telephone on Wednesday.
He said the suspects were arrested after police intercepted their vehicle near Sheda village, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway on Tuesday, around 5:34 pm.
He said the suspects were conveying the stolen cables inside a Mazda car with registration number MBD 465 AH, when they were flagged down.
According to him, security operatives were already informed about stolen high-tension cables, and it was while searching the vehicle that the cables were discovered.
“Actually, the suspects confessed to stealing the electricity high-tension cables along the Kwali-Abaji axis, and they will be transferred to the FCT police command after investigations,” he said.
He said the suspects, who are currently in Kwali Police Division, will be transferred to the FCT police command upon conclusion of investigation.
It would be recalled that two weeks ago, suspected vandals were reported to have stolen electricity high-tension cables along Manderegi village near Abaji town.
Also on Saturday, a suspected vandal was arrested at Ashara village, along Yaba road, for possession of stolen high-tension cables in the area by members of the vigilante.
Earlier, vigilantes also arrested one Peters Shina for allegedly vandalizing electricity high-tension cables in the same Ashara village in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
A member of the vigilante, Yunusa Saidu, said the suspect was arrested on Thursday around 4:23 p.m. after some villagers saw the suspect and immediately raised an alarm.
He said the suspect boldly went to where some of the high-tension cables had fallen down and started cutting the cable. He added that the vigilantes quickly mobilized to the scene and arrested the suspect.
He said the suspect, who is a native from Kabba, Kogi State, but resides in Gwako village near Gwagwalada, confessed to the stealing of the cables.
Abuja Metro also reliably learnt that three suspected vandals were also apprehended with stolen high-tension cables near Piri village, also in Kwali Area Council.
A police source who preferred anonymity confirmed the arrest, saying the suspects were conveying a large quantity of high-tension cables inside a Golf car when they were arrested at a checkpoint near Piri village on Wednesday.
“Actually, the policemen became suspicious when the driver, upon sighting the policemen at the checkpoint, parked by the roadside and fled into the bush, while three other occupants of the car also attempted to flee. However, when one of the police threatened to shoot, they could not escape,” he said.
The source said the suspects were later taken to Kwali Division alongside the vehicle, and that investigation was ongoing to locate the driver.
Also some suspected hoodlums reportedly vandalized electricity high-tension cables between Manderegi village near Abaji town two weeks ago, which has thrown Abaji and its environs into darkness since then.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Saka Ajao Adewale, has recently ordered the Divisional Police Officers and the Area Commanders to raid hotspots in their areas and flush out the criminals, especially those link to the vandalization of the critical assets.