The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory Command, has arrested 12 suspects for engaging in scavenging activities in violation of the existing ban imposed by the FCT Administration.
The command’s spokesperson, Monica Ojobi, in a statement issued this Tuesday, revealed that the arrests were made across different locations in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to combat vandalism and theft in the capital city.
“In continuation of the corps’ relentless efforts against the menace of vandalism and theft bedeviling the FCT, and in line with directives from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the NSCDC has arrested 12 suspects at different locations across the capital city,” the statement read.
FCT NSCDC Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, emphasized that the crackdown aligns with the government’s commitment to protecting critical national assets and ensuring residents’ safety.
Odumosu reiterated that scavengers have been linked to criminal activities, including the theft of public infrastructure such as rail tracks, streetlight poles, manhole covers, and armored cables, which disrupt essential services and pose security threats.
To further regulate the sector, Odumosu disclosed that the corps is monitoring activities at the Pantaker scrap market in Abuja, conducting profiling exercises to ensure that only genuine and certified dealers operate within the market.
“I want to remind residents that the ban on scavenging in the FCT remains in force, and I am committed to ending the vandalism and theft associated with these activities,” Odumosu warned.
He further stressed that anyone caught selling stolen government property will face arrest, prosecution, and permanent closure of their business.
Residents have been urged to report scavengers spotted in their communities to security agencies, as authorities intensify enforcement measures to uphold the ban.