The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to prosecute vandals who damaged and stole transmission cables, plunging large parts of Abuja into darkness. Speaking during a media chat on Sunday evening, a visibly furious Wike confirmed the arrest of some suspects connected to the crime.

The minister emphasised that the suspects would face charges of economic sabotage rather than theft, describing their actions as a severe threat to the stability of the nation’s capital.

“These vandals have sabotaged us by damaging and stealing cables, leaving over 60% of Abuja in darkness. By the grace of God, the security agencies are on top of the situation. We’ve arrested some suspects, and I assure you, none of them will escape justice. People will learn from this,” Wike stated.

He continued, “We will not charge them with ordinary theft. This is economic sabotage. Enough is enough. No patriotic citizen should tolerate such acts.”

The minister called on residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities, adding that the government is committed to safeguarding the capital.

Last Friday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the widespread power outage in Abuja to the vandalism of its 132kV transmission lines and underground cables. Areas affected include Wuse, Utako, Jabi, Maitama, Life Camp, Asokoro, Mabushi, and parts of the Presidential Villa, where President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima reside.