A 19 years old boy identified as Bala Ibrahim has been arrested by the Kogi state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly vandalising power installations and communication cables in Lokoja, the state capital.
The command also arrested 10 other suspects for their involvement in conspiracy and destruction of oil and gas facilities belonging to the government.
Parading the suspects in Lokoja, the state commandant of NSCDC, Everestus Obiyo said on 23rd July, Bala Ibrahim was arrested while attempting to steal armoured cables belonging to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) at the housing unit, Lokoja .
According to the Commandant, the suspect was nabbed with four rolls of vandalised armoured cables, feeder pillars bar and various tools used in the vandalization .
Obiyo explained that the confession of the suspect, led to the arrest of an accomplice,only identified as Labor Ali aka Danwani who specializes in the purchase of stolen electrical equipments
Also, the command paraded nine other suspects namely Adugbu Sunday, Abdulganiyu Salihu, Abduljafaru Asukumi, Salihu Jimoh, Suleiman Ayo, Farin Kaya, Isaac Toni, Jemilu Haladu and Suleiman Adade for alleged illegal mining, and stealing of pipeline steel facilities.
The state commandant who lamented at the incessant destruction of power installations in the state vowed to stop at nothing to curb the ugly trend.
“This criminal act by some undeserved elements in the society who kept on vandalising public infrastructures has brought negative consequences to the economy”, he noted.
Items recovered from the suspects include, filing machines, set of Yamaha Generator, Qlink motorcycle, Toyota Hiace Open Van, 2 long length of petroleum Steel pipeline, logs of wood, and a truck load of Felspar minerals.
However the 11 suspects, according to the commandant will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
