To counteract escalating impact of activities of scavengers, known as Babanbola, in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, FCT Command, has reintroduce an earlier ban on their activities.

NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, made this known while parading 20 suspected infrastructure vandals arrested at various parts of the city by patrols of the command, Monday in Abuja.

He said the criminal activities of the vandals and scavengers has continued to deface and destroy the nation’s capital and have since been outlawed in the nation’s capital and should not be tolerated.

Odumosu said, “The alarming rate of manhole theft, vandalism of streets lights, vandalism of traffic lights has become very unbearable as the activities of these miscreants.

“We are going to take the war to the doorsteps of these vandals and we are making bold our efforts in ridding the FCT of vandals and miscreants who disguise in the name of scavengers popular known as Babanbola to destroy and deface FCT.

“When I took over as Commandant of the FCT, I made it categorically clear that vandals and thieves who are causing environmental nuisance and are feasting on the infrastructure in the FCT, it will not be business as usual from now on.”

He said, “When we came on board, I reinvigorated our patrol team and we ensured that the various parts of the FCT that has been unmanned before, enjoys 24 hours patrol.”

“To counteract the escalating impact of theft and vandalism that has been adversely impacting the FCT metropolis, the command took an active approach, we activated strategical plans for routine night patrol which proved to be highly effective.

“In the course of this patrol, we successfully arrested 20 scavengers and miscreants. The 20 arrested suspects in our custody were profile, investigated and will be handed over to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, (AEPB), for further prosecution.”

Commandant Odumosu explained that the action will send a warning to all those involved in or planning to involve in criminal behaviour of vandalism, that it will not be tolerated.

“The proactive strategy we have embraced underscores the unswerving commitment of the government to address the concerns of its citizens. We are steadfastly dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of critical national assets and infrastructure throughout the FCT Metropolis.

He said “the FCT Command remains fully committed to upholding its duty of curbing vandalism. Our collective effort, combined with the support of the community and relevant agencies, will undoubtedly contribute to a safer and more secure Federal Capital Territory.”

He said: “Those nabbed and paraded from the intelligence gathered are thieves pretending to be homeless, slept under bridges but were caught stealing manholes and vandalising government property in various area in the FCT.”

Some of the suspects include; John Ahmed “M” 46 years from Lafia local government area of Nasarawa State, Abba Musa ‘’M” 26 years fromDala local government area of Kano State, Jack Ikekwe ‘’M” 25 years from Kalabari local government area of Rivers State, Kabir Dauda Ummar ‘’M” 25 years from Gwale local government area of Kano State, Peter Eseh ‘’M” 39 years from Ado local government area of Benue State, Monday Magaji ‘’M” 25 years Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State, among others.