The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Akwa Ibom State has made a significant breakthrough in combating vandalism, announcing the arrest of five suspects involved in vandalizing power installations, including high-tension cables.
State Commandant Bashar Hussaini revealed that the suspects confessed to monitoring electricity supply outages before cutting the cables.
Hussaini revealed that they were caught in the act with the help of the local community in the border area between Ikot Obio Ekpong and Ikot Ekong village.
The suspects, identified as Uchenna Uguru, the buyer of the stolen cables, Emmanuel Sampson, Victor Sampson, and Kingsley Umoren, the vandals, and Joseph Emmanuel, the bike man who conveyed them, had also targeted power infrastructure in Atanuk village.
He said the NSCDC recovered three bundles of vandalized high-tension cables and a motorcycle used in the operation.
Hussaini expressed concerns over the rising rate of vandalism in the state, particularly targeting power installations.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling this menace head-on.
He said, “The suspects were caught in the act with the help of the local community, while cutting the High Tension Cables in the border between Ikot Obio Ekpong and Ikot Ekong village.
“The suspects had also vandalised power infrastructure in Atanuk village, a neighboring village to the two affected villages.
“The suspects arrested include; Uchenna Uguru, the buyer of the stolen cables; Emmanuel Sampson, Victor Sampson and Kingsley Umoren, are the three suspects who vandalised the cables, while Joseph Emmanuel was the bike man, who conveyed them.”
