Photo caption: Personnel of the NSCDC
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kebbi State Command, has warned residents of Koko-Besse Local Government Area against vandalising national assets.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the command, led by the State Commandant, Abubakar Kabiru-Alkammawa, held a town hall meeting with civil society organisations and network providers at the palace of the District Head of Koko-Besse on Friday.
NAN also reports that the meeting was organised to sensitise residents to the consequences of vandalising national assets.
Leaders of the Jari-Bola scavengers, Kaduna Electric Distribution Company (KEDCO), the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Koko-Besse Development Association, and commercial motorcyclists attended the meeting.
Addressing the residents, the commandant, represented by the Deputy Commandant in charge of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, Florence Adepoju, said anyone caught vandalising national assets would be arraigned before the Federal High Court and risk up to 25 years’ imprisonment.
“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.
He explained that vandalising national assets affects national security, the economy and human lives.
“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.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Koko-Besse Local Government, Suraju Saliu, disclosed that nine transformers were vandalised in the Koko area, resulting in a total blackout that lasted seven months.
Saliu said he and some council members contributed money to repair three of the nine vandalised transformers to restore electricity to their communities.
He pledged his full support to the NSCDC in ending the incessant vandalism of national assets.
Earlier, the National Chairman of Grassroots Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance (GAPAG), Muhammad Anache, said the state and federal governments had begun the installation of a 3.5MW solar plant to provide an alternative power supply to the people.
Anache said national assets belong to all citizens, not just the government.
He urged residents to report anyone suspected of vandalising national assets to the NSCDC immediately and to support government efforts to provide necessary facilities in the state.
=== NAN ===
