The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the FCT has apprehended 20 individuals suspected of engaging in nighttime scavenging.

The Commandant, Mr. Olusola Odumosu, paraded the suspects on Monday, revealing that they were known as "Baba Bola" scavengers and were captured at various locations during a midnight patrol conducted by operatives.

Odumosu emphasized that scavenging during nighttime hours is unacceptable in the FCT due to intelligence reports indicating that acts of vandalism, theft of manhole covers, street lights, and traffic lights primarily occur at night in the area.

He went on to explain that his command had received numerous reports of criminals posing as scavengers attacking citizens traveling during the night. To combat this, routine night patrols were established, proving highly effective in sending a strong message of zero tolerance for criminal activities in the FCT.

The Commandant noted that the suspects underwent thorough interviews and profiling investigations and would be handed over to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for prosecution.

He advised individuals without fixed addresses in the FCT to return to their hometowns to avoid trouble, highlighting that these scavengers are sometimes exploited as informants by nefarious elements, undermining societal peace.

He stressed the command's commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure across the FCT and urged the support of organizations and communities in the fight against vandalism and crime. Exhibits recovered from the suspects included vandalized iron parts, sacks, and waste products.