Breaking: Police Arrest 50 Suspects in Abuja Manhole Theft Crackdown
By Usman A Harande
In a major breakthrough, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has arrested 50 suspects in connection with the theft of manholes in Abuja. The arrests were made during a raid on the Kabusa Pantaker Market on Sunday, January 5th, 2025.
The police recovered a staggering array of stolen items, including:
√25 manhole covers
√3 vehicles√Vandalized solar street lights
√Galvanized rods used in flyover construction
√Tools used in vandalizing government installations.
Investigations have revealed that the suspects operate as part of a larger network, selling stolen manhole covers to scrap dealers. This criminal activity poses a significant threat to public safety, creating hazards on roads and walkways while undermining the integrity of public infrastructure.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has commended the citizen who recorded and shared a video that led to the arrests, describing it as a “demonstration of patriotism”. Wike has also vowed to crack down on the perpetrators, stating that the government will do everything necessary to bring them to book.
The police have named the suspects arrested, including Bashir Usman, Shaibu Ibrahim, and Sani Isah, among others.
This development comes as the FCT Administration has identified a smelting company, Abuja Steel Company, as a key buyer of stolen manhole covers. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the company’s involvement.
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