Ebonyi NSCDC parades 4 alleged electricity vandals

Ebonyi NSCDC parades 4 alleged electricity vandals
NSCDC
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Oct.16, 2019 (NAN) The Ebonyi command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested four suspects for allegedly vandalising electrical cables at the International Market, Abakaliki.
The state Commandant of the corps, Lucy Samu, told newsmen in Abakiliki on Wednesday that the suspects were apprehended by NSCDC operatives posted to the market.
Samu said that the suspects claimed to be working at the market but the operatives later confirmed their claims to be false.
“They were apprehended while vandalising the cables and the ‘forker’ used for construction work at the market.
“One of the suspects was arrested on Oct.11, while three others were arrested on Oct. 15 and we would definitely charge them to court.
“Their acts amount to sabotage on the good work of the state governor at the market,” she said.
She advised the people to guard against the purchase of stolen items, saying that doing so amounted to aiding and abetting theft and vandalism.
She said that anybody arrested with stolen items would also be treated as criminal suspects.
“People should not patronise these boys who carry materials about for sell. Anyone who wants to buy such items should go to the right place,” she said.
One of the suspects, Mr Monday Agwu, 21, from Afikpo South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, confessed to the crime, claiming that he was led into the crime by hunger.
Mr Mathew Onyema, 45, another suspect from Abakaliki LGA, however, denied any involvement in the crime.
Onyema, who claimed to be a store keeper in the market, said that his only crime was that he reported the missing items to the appropriate market authorities.
The other two suspects included Friday Nwazunku, 21, and Stephen Edeh, both from Izzi and Ezza LGAs.
The Commissioner for Border Peace and Internal Security in the state, Mr Stanley Okoro-Emegha, who witnessed the parade of the suspects, commended the NSCDC for the arrest.
Okoro-Emegha lauded the collaboration between the security agencies and state government in the fight against crime.
“It is unfortunate that our people, who know what the governor was doing to make life meaningful for them, are the ones sabotaging his efforts by vandalising public property.
“Everybody should stay out of trouble because the state is no longer safe for criminals,” he said.(NAN)
RCO/GOM/USO
(Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Sam Oditah)