Vandalism: NSCDC nabs 22yr-old mechanic with ‘barricade metals’ at Wuye

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded a 22-years old mechanic, Yakubu Adamu, for allegedly destroying and carting away metals used to barricade the road median on Namdi Azikiwe expressway, a major road linking Area 1 and Berger Bridge, in Abuja.
It was gathered that the suspect, a father of one son, was apprehended near a pedestrian bridge at Finance Junction, along Wuye District, at the wee hours of last Thursday.
Parading the suspect, Commandant of the FCT Command of the Corps, Solomon Iyamu, disclosed that Yakubu was caught in act around 2:15 am last Thursday, when NSCDC personnel were on road time patrol of the city.
Iyamu said the Corps was still investigating the alleged vandalism, and after which the suspect will be duly made to face the wrath of the law, to serve as deterrent to others.
He said: “We know that the crime is not committed by one person alone, there are syndicate, so after the completion of our investigation definitely we will then take him and others involved to court for appropriate prosecution.
“Our job is 24-hour, that’s why we’re always on a daily 24-hour duty surveillance over Federal, state and local government critical infrastructure.”
The NSCDC boss therefore advised FCT residents to ensure that anytime they see or notice movements around critical public infrastructure, they should alert and inform the NSCDC and other security agencies for timely response.
“We are always on ground to act on time. So people shouldn’t keep quiet, as the government is providing these public for their own benefit, and if they are now being destroyed or carted away by some miscreants, it’s dangerous.
“For instance this vandalised facility is supposed to help stop the people from endangering their lives while crossing the busy expressway, therefore forcing them to use the pedestrian bridge there.
“But without the barricade now, people will stray into moving traffic, and lives will be lost, which is not good for the society.”
However, the suspect while answering questions from journalists, feigned ignorance of the criminal nature of the offence, as he was drugged by one Ezekiel, his alleged accomplice (now at large), who took him to the site.
According to him, he had worked as mechanic in a workshop in Gwarinpa, Abuja, when he was involved in an accident, which forced him to seek treatment in his village in Kaduna, for about a year without working.
His words: “When I returned back to Abuja, I realized that the site where my workshop was located has been occupied, as there is a building under construction there, so I decided to move to Jabi mechanic village to find someone that I would attached myself to as jobman, where I’m sleeping inside a car.
“I met Ezekiel that helps me with money, with which I bought bread to eat, thereafter he told me to assist him to remove the barricades, which were to sold for N3,000, and I would have my share.
“My job was to evaluate the removed barricade metal from the area to a hideout, from where we were to sell them.
“The securitymen (NSCDC personnel) accosted us, and my second ran away, and agents sought to know where I was coming from at such a time, which I told them. That’s was how I got arrested and detained.
“I have told them the truth and how to get the guy that introduced me to the business.
“I don’t know what I was doing was a crime, but now that I’m caught I feel bad and ashamed. Honestly, it’s a shame to me and my family, because this is my habit.”