The Zone 16 Police Command has apprehended 14 individuals in connection with the alleged vandalism of 132KV transmission towers in Bayelsa and neighboring Rivers states.
Mr. Emonena Gunn, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, announced on Monday that the arrests followed a petition from the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Power, Kharin Komuko, to the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 16.
Acting on the petition, operatives from the Surveillance and Intelligence Section of the Criminal Investigation Department initiated an operation on September 11, 2024, resulting in the arrest of the suspects.
The individuals apprehended include Christopher Chimelam Onyeno, 22, and Chinyereugo Ukommaduakolam, 29, both from Imo State; as well as Believe Ajudu, 37; Believe Chimela, 30; and Usman Albert Odumanyuyah, 50, all from Rivers State. Other suspects include Newman Ejimadu, 32; Pentecost Godwin, 36; Ogbunike Morgan, 20; Julius Okpuhigwe, 54; and Moses Stephen, 26, all from Rivers State; Abubakar Umaru, 26, from Sokoto State; and Emmanuel John, 35; Kabiru Usman, 30; and Aminu Sanusi, 20, all from Kano State.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspects were involved in the vandalism of the 132 KV Transmission Tower Line along the Ahoada-Mbiama axis of the East-West Road and the Igbogene axis in Rivers and Bayelsa states, respectively.
Gunn said, “The suspects who have been on the wanted list of the zone for the past few months, were arrested based on credible intelligence in Rivers State.
“During the “course of the diligent and painstaking investigation, 35 mm floor core armoured cables, 70 mm floor core armoured cables, 50 mm SLPE cables, electrical pot installation, wheel spanners, cutting blades, long botts, 11 KV poles, recline cables, earth cables, bee copper and other items were recovered as exhibits.”
It would be recalled that 13 power transmission towers in Rivers and Bayelsa states were vandalised two months ago resulting in a lingering power outage in Bayelsa State.
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