The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intercepted a truck loaded with vandalized streetlight poles believed to have been stolen from parts of Abuja.

According to a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Monica Ojobi, the seizure was made by the NSCDC’s Crack Team on Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) during a routine patrol along the Jabi axis.

“The driver and his assistant fled the scene on foot after being flagged down by operatives, abandoning the truck and its contents,” Ojobi said.

She added that the vehicle was impounded and towed to the Command headquarters for further investigation.

Reacting to the incident, FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, strongly condemned the theft of public infrastructure, describing it as a deliberate act of sabotage against government efforts to provide basic amenities to citizens.

He reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure through renewed operational strategies and intensified anti-vandalism patrols.

Dr. Odumosu also issued a stern warning to individuals and groups involved in vandalism, vowing that they would be prosecuted and jailed if caught.

He specifically addressed leaders of scavenger (Pantaker) markets across the FCT, cautioning them against dealing in stolen public assets. He warned that any market found trading in such items would be shut down permanently.

“When there is no demand, there will be no supply,” he said, urging market leaders to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

The Commandant also advised motorists to drive carefully and avoid damaging public infrastructure like streetlights, noting that such damages plunge communities into darkness and heighten accident risks.

Odumosu called on residents to support the NSCDC’s efforts by reporting suspicious movements or vandalism to the Corps using its emergency numbers: 09166229882 or 08159066244.