Vandals who damaged and stole transmission cables tossing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into darkness will learn their lessons, the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has said.
At a media chat, an irate Wike said a few suspects have been apprehended in connection to the crime.
He said the apprehended persons would not be charged with stealing but financial sabotage.
The minister said the vandals are undermining the stability of the country’s capital city and would be punished seriously for the crime.
As indicated by him, the suspect won’t emerge from the litigation till they are convicted of the crime.
Wike said, “They vandalised, stole the cables, for over 60% 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 that are involved will never come out of it and people will learn lessons from it.
“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.”
Wike encouraged FCT residents to be involved in the policing of the country’s capital by reporting dubious exercises.
Last Friday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the power outage in Abuja to the vandalism of its 132kV transmission line and underground cables.
Areas affected include Wuse, Utako, Jabi, Maitama, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Mabushi, and parts of the Presidential Villa, which houses President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
