The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to charge individuals responsible for vandalising Abuja’s electricity cables with economic sabotage. The act plunged over 60% of the FCT into darkness last week.
Speaking during a media briefing on Sunday, Wike confirmed the arrest of several suspects linked to the crime, stressing that they would face severe consequences to serve as a deterrent.
“They vandalised, stole the cables, causing over 60 per cent of Abuja to be dark. Sabotage! By the grace of God, the security agencies are on top of the matter. We’ve arrested some of them, and I can tell you: all of those involved will never come out of it, and people will learn lessons from it,” he said.
“We won’t charge you with stealing; we will charge you with economic sabotage. Enough is enough. Nobody will take this. Nobody who loves his country will accept what is going on.”
Earlier, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced that its 132kV transmission line and underground cables had been vandalised.
TCN listed Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, Jabi, Wuse, Maitama, Lifecamp, and parts of the Presidential Villa as areas affected by power outages as a result of the crime.
