The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recovered large quantities of vandalised public infrastructure and uncovered a network involved in the illegal use and production of official and diplomatic vehicle number plates, as part of intensified operations to combat crime across Abuja.
Speaking during a press briefing at the FCT Police Command Headquarters on Friday, Commissioner of Police Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said the successes were achieved through proactive anti-crime patrols and actionable intelligence provided by members of the public.
The police boss said the command had stepped up efforts to tackle the growing menace of infrastructure vandalism, describing it as a major act of economic sabotage that endangers public safety and disrupts essential services.
According to him, stolen items recovered during coordinated operations across Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative Quarters, Lugbe and Nyanya included drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured high-voltage electricity cables and internet communication cables worth millions of naira.
Five suspects arrested in connection with the recoveries were identified as Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale and Dabarani Mujitafa.
CP Sanusi warned scrap dealers, buyers and receivers of stolen government infrastructure that the police had expanded investigations to dismantle the entire criminal supply chain.
“We have commenced extensive investigations and will not relent until every link in the supply, distribution and disposal chain of these stolen public assets is identified and brought to justice,” he said.
He disclosed that the recovered public infrastructure would be formally handed over to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for reinstallation to restore essential services and improve public safety.
The commissioner also announced a major breakthrough in the command’s investigation into the unauthorized use of official government and diplomatic vehicle number plates.
He said investigations ordered shortly after he assumed office revealed that criminals had been illegally acquiring and using official and diplomatic number plates to evade security checks and facilitate criminal activities within the FCT.
The probe, according to him, also exposed the production and supply network responsible for the illegal plates.
Several unauthorized official and diplomatic number plates were confiscated during operations across the territory, while suspects arrested in connection with the offences remain in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations and subsequent prosecution.
CP Sanusi assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led policing and targeted operations aimed at reducing crime and safeguarding lives, property and critical public infrastructure across the Federal Capital Territory.
