Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have seized stolen public property and dismantled a ring involved in forging diplomatic and government vehicle plates, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, said Friday.

Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, Sanusi said targeted operations and night patrols across Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative Quarters, Lugbe and Nyanya yielded a haul of manhole covers, solar street lights, high-tension cables and fibre optic lines.

Five people were arrested over the items: Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale and Dabarani Mujitafa.

Sanusi described the destruction of public assets as sabotage. 

“The theft of drainage covers, solar lights and power cables worth millions has led to accidents, attacks on pedestrians, blackouts and a spike in crime in darkened areas,” he said.

The police boss warned dealers in scrap and stolen government property that the dragnet was expanding.

“We are coming after every buyer, receiver and middleman in this chain. We will not stop until they are all brought to justice,” he said.

The recovered materials will be returned to the FCT Administration for repair and reinstallation, he added.

On the plate forgery, Sanusi said officers had seized fake diplomatic and official tags used to bypass checkpoints and gain entry into restricted government facilities.

He said investigations traced the production network to outside Abuja, and that manufacturers had already been identified. Suspects in custody will be arraigned once investigations are concluded, he noted.

According to the CP, some buyers spent between N500,000 and N1.7 million to obtain the counterfeit plates.

He urged residents and the media to report suspicious diplomatic vehicles, stressing that authentic plates have a distinct format.

Sanusi said the command would continue to rely on intelligence and community tips to curb crime in the capital.