The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kebbi State Command, has cautioned residents of Koko-Besse Local Government Area against vandalising critical national infrastructure, warning that offenders could face severe legal consequences.
The Punch reported that the warning was issued during a town hall meeting held on Friday at the palace of the District Head of Koko-Besse.
The meeting, organised by the state command under the leadership of State Commandant Abubakar Kabiru-Alkammawa, brought together civil society organisations, network providers and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the dangers of vandalism.
Representatives of the Jari-Bola scavengers, Kaduna Electric Distribution Company, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the Koko-Besse Development Association and commercial motorcyclists attended the sensitisation programme.
Speaking at the event, the Commandant, represented by the Deputy Commandant in charge of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, Florence Adepoju, warned that anyone found vandalising national assets would be prosecuted at the Federal High Court and could face up to 25 years in prison.
“We are here in Koko to interact with our people on the consequences of vandalising national assets.
“This meeting is a directive from the Office of the National Security Adviser, which mandated the NSCDC to prosecute anyone caught vandalising national assets.
“These national assets include cables, network providers’ masts, electricity stations, poles, transformers, among others. It is a capital offence to vandalise such assets,” he said.
Adepoju noted that the destruction of critical infrastructure poses serious threats to national security, economic activities and public welfare.
“Hospitals will be affected when there is no electricity to treat patients.
“If we allow our electrical poles to be vandalised and the grid collapses, it will affect healthcare centres and the economy.
“Our hospitals need light, and airports need electricity for planes to land.
“Without electricity and network, public trust will be lost.
“We are urging you, especially Jari-Bola, to tell your members to stop vandalising national assets,” he warned.
Also speaking, Chairman of Koko-Besse Local Government, Suraju Saliu, revealed that vandals destroyed nine transformers in the area, plunging the community into darkness for seven months.
He explained that he and some members of the local council personally contributed funds to repair three of the damaged transformers, enabling electricity to be restored to affected communities.
Saliu reaffirmed the council’s commitment to working with the NSCDC to curb the persistent vandalism of public infrastructure.
Earlier, the National Chairman of Grassroots Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance, Muhammad Anache, disclosed that both the state and federal governments had commenced the installation of a 3.5-megawatt solar power plant to provide an alternative electricity supply for residents.
Anache stressed that national assets belong to every Nigerian and should be protected by all.
He urged residents to promptly report suspected vandals to the NSCDC and support government efforts aimed at improving infrastructure across the state.
