Lagos State Police Command has apprehended three suspected vandals in for allegedly removing and stealing reflective “cat eye” safety lights on the Third Mainland Bridge.
The suspects were arrested after operatives monitoring the newly installed CCTV cameras on the bridge, observed suspicious movements and immediately alerted security personnel, leading to a swift police response.
The three men were reportedly caught in the act of vandalizing the bridge’s safety infrastructure and carting away a total of 156 reflective cat eye lights, items designed to improve visibility for motorists, especially at night and during heavy rainfall.
The arrest was confirmed during a security briefing attended by the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, who expressed serious concern over what he described as the growing trend of attacks on critical national assets.
The Minister praised the police for their vigilance and quick action, stressing that vandalism of public infrastructure threatens lives, disrupts road safety, and undermines national development efforts
Mr Umahi warned that offenders would not be spared, assuring that the suspects would be prosecuted in line with the law and also disclosed that the Federal Government plans to expand the surveillance system to additional highways nationwide to curb vandalism, monitor speeding and strengthen security for road users.
He cited reported incidents on key routes and structures including the Second Niger Bridge and sections of the Abuja–Kano highway, where construction materials and fittings are often stolen and sold as scrap.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Adesina Lawal, explained that the CCTV surveillance system installed on the Third Mainland Bridge played a major role in the successful arrest.
According to DCP Lawal, the operators monitoring the cameras detected unusual activity in real time, prompting officers to move quickly to the location where suspects were reportedly intercepted as they attempted to escape from the scene.
DCP Lawal further revealed that the surveillance coverage goes beyond the bridge surface, extending to areas underneath the structure and surrounding waterways, boosting security patrol capacity and improving emergency response.
During interrogation, one of the suspects reportedly denied personally removing the cat eyes, claiming he was only at the location to collect a debt from those he described as the actual perpetrators.
Police, however, say investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of involvement and whether there are more persons linked to the act.
Reporting By Abiola PETERS