Kehinde Fajobi
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has promised that vandals responsible for damaging and stealing transmission cables in Abuja, which plunged over 60% of the city into darkness, will face severe consequences.
Speaking during a media chat on Sunday, Wike confirmed that suspects had been arrested and would be charged with economic sabotage instead of theft.
“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,” Wike declared.
He added, “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 urged residents of Abuja to support efforts to secure the capital by reporting suspicious activities.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had previously attributed the blackout in areas like Wuse, Utako, Jabi, Maitama, Asokoro, and parts of the Presidential Villa to the vandalism of its 132kV transmission line and underground cables.