Abuja manhole cover vandals arrested, buyers hunted

By Kunle Sanni

Security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have apprehended several suspects involved in the theft of sewage manhole covers along Abuja highways.

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and New Media.

According to the statement, efforts are ongoing to track down their collaborators, including individuals purchasing the stolen covers.

The arrests follow a directive from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who tasked relevant stakeholders with intensifying efforts to curb vandalism of public infrastructure.

The Minister expressed outrage over the activities of those removing manhole covers, emphasizing that such acts not only damage public infrastructure but also pose significant dangers to road users.

“It is disheartening that some Nigerians would stoop to the level of removing public amenities installed with taxpayers’ money and selling them, despite the dangers their actions pose to others,” Wike said. He assured the public of the government’s commitment to holding the perpetrators accountable.

The Minister also commended a concerned citizen whose viral video brought attention to the issue, describing the gesture as patriotic.

Further updates on the investigation and measures to curb vandalism will be provided as the situation develops, according to the statement by Lere Olayinka