By Stanley Onyekwere
In furtherance to measures at mitigating the menace of vandalism of public infrastructure in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has commissioned seven high-powered bikes and two vehicles, aimed at boosting surveillance and patrols in the Territory.
Making this disclosure while answering questions from newsmen in Abuja, the Commandant, FCT Command of the NSCDC, Mathias Ohieme, explained that the bikes are specially designed for patrols in areas where hoodlums especially those who vandalise and cart away manholes from the roads.
Ohieme said the bikes will be round the city, moving and observing activities, to make sure that critical national assets especially the manholes, road signs and bridge reelings are protected.
He reiterated that anybody who engages in vandalism if arrested, will be prosecuted, as there is no going back on efforts to protect critical public assets in the Territory.
His words: “Anybody who engage in vandalism if arrested, you will be prosecuted, there is no going back on that, because it has become a common thing. we are looking out for them.
“Scavengers have seen it as a common thing, and we are on the lookout for them. Any scavenger we see, we stop and search what he is carrying in his truck.
“And the ones we have arrested, it was because of what we discovered in their trucks, and collect the things back from them. So we are looking out for them, and we are trying our best to protect critical assets.”
On whether there have been any conviction so far, the NSCDC boss in FCT said : “no, the cases are still in the court. So we are still in the prosecution process and the exhibits are in tact.”
According to him, “Already, the Corps has launched a Taskteam. The laws are there, if you are arrested, because our men are going out for enforcement now. “So everyone living within the FCT as the gateway to this nation should comply with the set regulations, and if not if the hands of the law catches up with anybody, that person will be prosecuted. And the mobile Courts are already on ground and everywhere functioning.
“Comply with COVID-19 PTF guidelines, stay away from crimes and report any act of vandalism or any other criminal acts within your neighbourhood to any of the security agencies.”
He however assured the personnel of the Corps that the authorities will always support them in the discharge of their duties as assigned to them.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
