The Anambra State Police Command has intensified its clampdown on vandals targeting public infrastructure, leading to the arrest of three suspects in Onitsha and the recovery of stolen transformer parts and high-tension cables.
Another suspect in Obosi died after jumping from a storey building in a failed attempt to evade arrest.
Police Spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday. He explained that the operations took place on Thursday, August 21, at different locations, including Atani Road in Onitsha and Ascension Anglican Church Road in Obosi.
According to him, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, raided a suspected hideout along Atani Road, where three suspects 25-year-old Adamu Ali, 22-year-old Usman Sulaiman, and 26-year-old Isah Abdullahi were apprehended.
Recovered items included bags of high-tension wires, melted cables, and transformer components, which investigations revealed had been stolen from power installations. The suspects were said to belong to a wider syndicate that specializes in vandalizing electricity infrastructure and selling the parts in Lagos.
In a separate incident in Obosi, security operatives on patrol intercepted four young men carrying a black “Super Shopping” bag. While three fled, one was arrested. Items found in the bag included cut-to-size armoured cables, iron cutters, a glass cutter, hand gloves, keys, clothing, and slippers.
Ikenga said the suspect, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, attempted to escape custody by jumping from a one-storey building while being handed over to the Police. He sustained gunshot injuries during the attempt and was rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead. His body has since been deposited in the morgue.
The Police confirmed that all recovered exhibits and the weapon used during the re-arrest are in their custody. Investigations are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and recover more stolen items.
Reiterating the Command’s zero tolerance for the vandalization of public utilities, SP Ikenga urged residents to stay alert and report suspicious activities, especially around government facilities.
He assured the public that the Police would continue to act decisively to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure across Anambra State
By Sunny A. David, Awka
