Police operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested two suspected members of a cable-vandalism gang and recovered several cut-to-size armoured cables in Guzape Abuja.
The suspects identified as Sagir Abubakar of Kuchingoro Village FCT and Seidu Umar Bello were arrested following a surveillance patrol along Walter Ofonagoro Street Guzape at about 1:30am on October 31.
The FCT Police Command said operatives from Guzape Division spotted a Lexus SUV and a Toyota Sienna parked under suspicious circumstances and approached the vehicles to ascertain the occupants’ reasons for being there at that hour.
However the occupants reportedly sped off upon sighting the police team abandoning one of their accomplices who attempted to escape on foot.
The operatives pursued and arrested him while a search of the surrounding premises led to the recovery of several cut-to-size armoured cables.
The command said preliminary investigations identified Abubakar as a member of a gang allegedly targeting secluded locations across the FCT to vandalise public and private infrastructure.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Bello who had initially escaped from the scene in one of the vehicles.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Josephine Adeh disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Adeh said investigations were ongoing to establish the full extent of the suspects’ activities identify other members of the gang and arrest those still at large.
She added that the suspects remained in police custody and would be charged in court once investigations concluded.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities to the nearest police station.
It also provided emergency contact numbers: 08032003913 and 08061581938.