Police confirm sergeant’s arrest over Abia pipeline vandalism

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa. Photo: The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka

The Abia State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of a police sergeant along with 18 others over the theft of underground pipelines along the Nkwonta axis of Umunneochi LGA.

PUNCH Metro reports that the suspects were arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 143 Battalion, who carried out a major security operation and apprehended the 19 suspected vandals while they were stealing the underground pipelines.

They were caught on Friday while loading stolen pipeline infrastructure into a heavy-duty trailer.

 The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Head of Media and Public Relations, CSC Ndukwe Agu Egwu, on behalf of the State Commandant, said on Thursday that the suspects were undergoing profiling and would soon appear in court.

 The operation has drawn commendation from the Executive Mayor of Isuikwuato LGA, Hon. Chinedu Ekeke, who praised the efforts of the Commanding Officer, 143 Battalion, Lt Col A. M. Rabe; the leader of the company that made the arrests, Lt F. A. Bashir; and all the soldiers involved for their swift response and dogged display of integrity, which led to the apprehension of the suspects.

 Speaking earlier following the arrest, Ekeke described the operation as a significant success in efforts to curb vandalism and protect public and private property within the local government area.

 The mayor described the actions of the military as an outstanding example of how officers should conduct themselves and discharge their duties without fear or favour.

 He recalled that just days before the arrests, he had raised the alarm over the growing incidence of vandalism in the LGA, including an attempted theft of materials at the council’s pig farm, high-tension cables running from Amiyi Obinaohia to ABSU, and other reported incidents involving public assets.

 He noted that decisive action was necessary to protect infrastructure, safeguard public resources and discourage further attacks on valuable assets within the local government area. He assured residents that the suspects would be made to face the full weight of the law.

 The 19 suspects reportedly include one sergeant (name withheld), a police officer attached to the Ovim Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

 PUNCH Metro also gathered that the list of suspects also includes a truck driver, a bus driver, a conductor, 12 loaders and two panel beaters/metal cutters.

 Following their arrest, the suspects were handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.

 Confirming the arrest of the sergeant on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, simply said, “We are investigating the matter,” following an enquiry by PUNCH Metro.