Vigilantes have arrested a man identified as Peters Shina for allegedly vandalizing high-tension electricity cables along Ashara village in Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory.
Yunusa Saidu, a member of the vigilante group, confirmed the arrest on Monday, October 6, 2025, stating that Shina was caught around 4:23 pm on Thursday after villagers spotted him and raised the alarm.
According to Saidu, the suspect “confidently approached the fallen high-tension cables and began cutting them.”
The vigilantes quickly mobilized and apprehended him at the scene.
Shina, a native of Kabba in Kogi State who currently resides in Gwako village near Gwagwalada, confessed to stealing the cables and has since been handed over to the police at Danagra Division.
Additionally, three other suspected vandals were caught with stolen high-tension cables near Piri village, also in Kwali Area Council.
A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrests. The suspects were intercepted at a checkpoint near Piri village on Wednesday while transporting a large quantity of high-tension cables in a Golf car.
“The driver became suspicious when he saw police at the checkpoint, parked the car by the roadside, and fled into the bush. Three other occupants also tried to escape, but one police officer threatened to shoot, forcing them to surrender,” the source said.
The suspects and the vehicle were taken to Kwali Division, with investigations ongoing to track down the fleeing driver.
Abuja Metro recalled that about two weeks ago, suspected vandals damaged high-tension cables between Manderegi village and Abaji town, plunging Abaji and its surrounding areas into darkness since then.
