The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has pledged strict consequences for vandals responsible for damaging and stealing transmission cables, an act that has left over 60% of Abuja in darkness.
During a media chat on Sunday, Wike, visibly angered by the incident, revealed that security agencies had arrested suspects linked to the crime, which he described as a severe act of economic sabotage.
“They vandalised and stole cables, plunging over 60% of Abuja into darkness. Sabotage!” Wike stated. “Security agencies are on top of the matter. We’ve arrested some of them, and I assure you, they will face the full wrath of the law. People will learn lessons from this.”
The minister underscored that the perpetrators would not merely face charges of theft but of economic sabotage due to the significant impact of their actions on the nation’s capital.
“Enough is enough,” he declared. “Nobody who loves this country can tolerate such acts. We won’t charge them with stealing; we will charge them with economic sabotage. Nobody will take this lightly.”
Wike also urged FCT residents to be vigilant and collaborate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities to safeguard critical infrastructure.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) identified the vandalism of its 132kV transmission line and underground cables as the cause of the massive power outage. The affected areas include Wuse, Utako, Jabi, Maitama, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Mabushi, and parts of the Presidential Villa, home to President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Wike reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the issue and ensuring that measures are in place to prevent future occurrences. “We will do everything to protect the infrastructure critical to the smooth running of the capital city,” he assured.
