“Caught Red-Handed: Police Nab 18-Year-Old Vandal Stripping Third Mainland Bridge Installations”*
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested an 18-year-old suspect for allegedly vandalising critical installations on the Third Mainland Bridge, one of Nigeria’s busiest and most strategic road networks. The arrest was made during a routine patrol by officers attached to the Rapid Response Squad in the early hours of Monday.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, the suspect was caught while removing metallic fittings and other infrastructure components meant to support the bridge’s lighting and safety systems. Items recovered from him included already dismantled iron railings, bolts, and sections of cable, which investigators say are often sold to scrap dealers for quick cash.
The Police described the act as economic sabotage, noting that repeated vandalism of bridge installations not only costs the government millions in repairs but also endangers motorists and pedestrians who rely on the bridge daily. The Third Mainland Bridge, which links Lagos Island to the mainland, has been a frequent target for vandals due to its length and limited nighttime surveillance on some stretches.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the 18-year-old is part of a wider network of young vandals who operate at night, targeting public infrastructure across Lagos. The Command said it is now trailing other members of the syndicate and warned scrap metal dealers who buy stolen public assets that they risk prosecution as accomplices.
The suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation and possible prosecution. The Police urged residents to report suspicious activity around public infrastructure, stressing that protecting national assets is a shared responsibility.
Authorities also appealed to parents and community leaders to monitor youths in their wards, warning that the craze for quick money through vandalism carries heavy legal consequences. For now, the teenager faces charges that could keep him behind bars far longer than the night he spent on the bridge.