The Nation Newspaper

Tag: vandalising

  • Stop vandalising govt projects, President warns communities

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warned communities in Bayelsa State against vandalising Federal Government’s projects in their domains.

    He said communities which destroy government projects instead protecting them would no longer be considered for new projects.

    The President spoke when he inaugurated a shoreline protection and land reclamation project at Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

    The project was reportedly built by the Ecological Funds Office of the Federal Government to address coastal erosion.

    President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said responsible and well-behaved communities would continue to attract Federal Government projects.

    A statement by Lokpobiri’s Media Assistant, George Oji, said the President expressed concerns that completed and inaugurated projects were hitherto vandalised by their beneficiaries.

    He said: “I have advised the beneficiaries of the projects we have inaugurated today to own them, take them as their own. If we hear that these projects are being vandalised, government will be very hesitant to provide more infrastructures for them again.”

    President described coastal erosion as a major challenge affecting all the communities in the state but said government would gradually address the problems because of cost implications.

    He said he was determined and committed to the development of the country, including remote areas.

  • 50 face trial for ‘vandalising’ govt caterpillar

    Fifty persons were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly vandalising a caterpillar belonging to the Lagos Government around Idansan village in Ibeju-Lekki.

    The suspects were arrested on Tuesday.

    They are facing a four-count charge of arson.

    Chief Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi remanded them in prison and referred the case to the Director, Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

    In a statement, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Task force) Chairman Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said the suspects attacked some Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) official while demolishing shanties erected on acquired land.

    The officials, he said, were attacked with stones, iron-rods, broken bottles and burnt tyres.

    They were rescued by the agency’s enforcement team.

    According to him, owners/occupiers of the shanties were served notices and given months to evacuate their belongings from the land, which was approved for Dangote Refinery.

  • Four held for ‘vandalising’ MTN installations

    The police have arrested four suspects who allegedly vandalised telecommunication installations belonging to MTN at Mowo, Badagry.

    Monday Ogbonna, 40, Bamiji Akanni, 42, Sunday Odewale, 51 and Anthony Ivie, 30, were said to have committed the offence on July 17.

    It was gathered that the suspects used a white Mazda bus marked MUS175XW to load 16 pieces of inverter batteries from Mowo, which was intercepted at Arena Shopping Complex, Oshodi.

    According to Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal, their arrest followed a tip-off the command received on the activities of the vandals, adding that he immediately deployed a decoy team for monitoring.

    Edgal said: “Their efforts paid off when they intercepted a white Mazda bus with four occupants in front of the Arena Shopping Complex, Oshodi. When their vehicle was searched, 16 pieces of inverter batteries were found.

    “We recovered the batteries, the Mazda as well as a Toyota Hilux with registration number KTU658EW. The suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.”

  • Police arrest four soldiers, others for ‘vandalising’ water pipes

    Police arrest four soldiers, others for ‘vandalising’ water pipes

    •Parade Armed robbery suspects

    The police yesterday paraded four new recruits of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and seven others, including the state Water Corporation employee, for ‘vandalising’ water pipes worth about N25 million.

    They were Air Crew Men (ACM) Akingbola Wole, Ugbong Abel, Alalifu George and Kumish Revelation, attached to 055 NAF Camp, Victoria Island.

    They were contracted by a Water Board’s employee, Olayiwole Oyedele, to provide security for him last Saturday.

    The buyer, Okechukwu Alozie was also arrested.

    Others were Wale Lawal, Babatunde Samson, Ismaila Adejare, Iliasu Ibrahim and Ikechukwu Ezemba.

    It was gathered that Oyedele sold the pipes to Alozie for N650,000 and had already collected N200,000  before the arrest.

    According to Oyedele, he agreed to pay the soldiers N35,000 for their service, adding that Wole collected N20,000 as advance payment.

    He said: “I have been a civil servant with Lagos State Government for over 22 years. I work with the Water Corporation. The pipes are scraps that we abandoned after installing new ones.

    “I was not supposed to carry them but the buyer (Alozie) contacted me that the one that was auctioned to him has finished and he wanted more.

    “So, when we went to carry those ones where they were abandoned, hoodlums in the area refused.They did not demand money but they said we would not carry them.

    “That was how I contacted one of my relatives and told him I needed some soldiers that would help scare the hoodlums away and also escort the pipes to China Town, where the buyer wanted them delivered.

    “It was Akingbola (Wole) that he introduced me to. He was the one I gave the money to and he brought his other colleagues. I did not discuss anything with the others.

    ‘’It was at the point of loading that policemen came and arrested us all.”

    But the soldiers claimed they never knew that Oyedele was stealing the pipes, adding that they discovered it at the scene when they saw that the pipes were government property.

    Wole, who admitted that he collected N20,000 from Oyedele, said the others did not know the amount paid.

    He claimed that he demanded to see a note instructing Oyedele to carry the pipes when they got to the scene, adding that he took the note to the police for confirmation.

    Wole said: “I did not know that he was stealing the pipes. When he called me, he said that he wanted escort to carry some pipes. I told my course mates that we were going for guard duty at a wedding.

    “I told them that the person in charge provided transport for us but I did not tell them how much. It was when we got to the scene that they knew that it was pipes. But when I saw the pipes, I told the man that they were government property and that we need to see a pass.

    “He showed us his identity card that he worked there and also showed a letter that indicated he was permitted to carry the pipes. I told my other colleagues to wait there and I went to the police station to confirm the man’s claim.

    “But before I got to the station, I saw that the police have already arrested them and told the civilians among them to sit on the ground.”

    The other soldiers lamented that they knew nothing about the deal, insisting that they were only out to help a ‘relative’ of their course mate who was supposed to be at a wedding.

    There was, however, mild drama at the parade ground after Ezemba started wailing, insisting he knew nothing about the crime.

    Ezemba, a lottery man, said he was only watching in amazement as policemen arrested the soldiers when he was roped in.

    He said: “I do not know anything about it. I am a lotto man and was passing by when I saw policemen arresting soldiers. I was surprised because I did not know police could arrest military people. I was watching and the next thing, they arrested me. My family members do not know I am even here. I am innocent.”

    Parading the suspects, Acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal said they were arrested around 11:42am on Saturday, following a tip off.

    He said: “We received information that some group of robbers with some Air Force personnel wearing military camouflage were at Doyin Bus Stop, Orile vandalising iron pipes belonging to the Lagos State Water Corporation.

    “They had one clerk crane and an Iveco 63 truck marked MUS772 XD. Two decoy teams of SARS operatives were mobilised to Orile to monitor the situation and, in the process, seven of the suspects were arrested while vandalising the iron pipe with four Air Force personnel giving them security back up to avoid police interference at the point of loading the iron pipes.

    “The Air Force personnel would be handed over to their Commanding Officer while the other suspects would be charged to court.”

    Meanwhile, the police have arrested one Onyekachi Osunkwo, 35, who admitted to have bought stolen vehicles.

    Osunkwo, who claimed to have been imprisoned in the United States in 2014 and in Nigeria the following year for the same offence, said he was glued to the business because he made good profit from it.

    According to him, he usually sold each vehicle and made 100 percent profit, adding that his supplies brought stolen vehicles for him at least twice weekly.

    The Imo State indigene said he was introduced into the business by one Ndubuisi when he returned from abroad, adding that though he made so much money from it, he had done nothing tangible with the money.

    He said: “I usually help people. If I buy a car for N400,000,  I sell it for N800,000. From the profit, I usually assisted people with needs. I haven’t done anything tangible with all the money I made from buying stolen cars.

    “There was a time I had so much money that I wanted to pay my landlord three years upfront. But I did not because I did not want him to start suspecting me. So, I usually paid him yearly. I was arrested at my residence in Iba Estate. They didn’t tell me what my offence was. They just told me to follow them to the station and it was when I got here that they said I usually bought stolen vehicles.  I didn’t argue. I have already told the police everything I know.”

    The police said Toyota Sienna buses marked LSR246EL and EKY434CA, as well as a Toyota Corrolla car APP09SN were recovered from Osunkwo, urging the rightful owners to come forward with evidence and claim the vehicles.

     

  • 18 arrested for ‘vandalising’ electricity installations

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has arrested 18 suspects for allegedly vandalising electricity installations in the Southeast.

    The arrest was carried out in collaboration with vigilance groups, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police and the Army in the last one month.

    In a statement in Enugu, EEDC’s Head of Communications Emeka Ezeh said one of the suspected vandals had been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

    Ezeh said those apprehended had been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

    The EEDC spokesman said the suspects were arrested at the company’s franchise areas of Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

    He said: “Just recently, five men – Chinedu Anike, Emenike Okoye, Chidera Nweke, Chukwu Onyekachi and Emmanuel Mathew – were apprehended for vandalising a distribution substation, property of EEDC, at Awgu in Enugu State.”

  • Court jails man for vandalising transformer

    Thirty-year-old Ahmed Umar has been sentenced to six months in prison for vandalising a transformer belonging to Ikeja Electric Plc.

    Umar was sentenced by Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat of a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Ogudu, after pleading guilty to a count of theft brought against him by the police.

    He was alleged to have stolen a copper wire valued N100,000 from a 500KVA transformer located at Olutunfese sub-station, by Demurin Street in Ketu, Alapere.

    Prosecuting Inspector Chiechie Lucky said the defendant was arrested on April 7, adding that the offence was punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    Having pleaded guilty to the charge, Magistrate Sule-Amzat sentenced the convict to six months in prison without an option of fine.

    Reacting to the judgement, the electricity firm said it has resolved to deal decisively with vandals of its properties.

    The company’s Head, Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, said they had resolved to also prosecute anyone who assaulted their workers.

    He said: “It’s a crime to vandalise transformers or any of our properties. We won’t tolerate it anymore. It is sad enough that customers are complaining about not enjoying 24 hours electricity per day. Those vandalising transformers contribute to the problem.

    “At Oshodi alone, 12 of our transformers were vandalised between January and March. That is why we have appealed to residents to take it upon themselves to monitor their transformers.

    “There are other cases pending in court and we would follow then till the end. We also have about five cases of assault on our men that are being prosecuted by law enforcement agencies.”

  • 22 arrested for ‘vandalising’ street lights

    Security agencies in Kaduna State have arrested 22 persons for allegedly vandalising and stealing street lights.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s media aide, Samuel Aruwan, said yesterday 19 of 22 suspects have been charged to court.

    Aruwan, who reiterated the government’s commitment to prosecuting anyone found vandalising or stealing public property, said: “Security operatives have arrested 22 suspects for vandalising and stealing solar street lights; they are scrap iron scavengers. Others are buyers of the stolen property.

    “After a careful comb of the crime scene, solar batteries and their covers and one iron saw were recovered in the cemetery on Bashama Road in Tudun Wada.

    “The operation, which lasted for two days, raided all scrap iron vendors and roadside solar battery sellers mentioned in the deal.

    “Items recovered include solar panels, armoured cables, vehicle spare parts and textile materials,” Aruwan said.

    Those arrested are Nazif Mohammed, Aminu Isa, Yusuf Tukur, Imrana Yusuf, Ibrahim Ahmed, Shamsudeen Jibrin, Sani Idris, Abdullahi Bashir and Ahmed Sani.

  • Two held for vandalising NITEL cables, bribing policemen 

    Two held for vandalising NITEL cables, bribing policemen 

    Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly vandalising Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) underground cables in Ikeja, the state capital.

    The suspects – Taofeek Babatunde (33) and Ibrahim Sise – were paraded yesterday at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

    They were also accused of offering N500,000 bribe to the policemen who caught them.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni said the suspects were caught by anti-crime patrol team of the Ikeja Police Division.

    He said: “They were caught vandalising, cutting, stealing and loading NITEL cables into a truck on Works Road junction beside the Lagos State High Court. When the suspects were accosted, they offered to the bribe the policemen to cover up their crime. They offered N500,000 and, of course, the policemen played along with them and collected the money.

    “They arrested the suspects after collecting the money, which you can see right here. On counting the money, it was discovered that it amounted to N493,500 and the policemen, in furtherance to the call of responsible and effective policing by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), turned down the gratification.

    “Those policemen stood their ground, although they played along as if they were going to collect the money, which they handed over to their Divisional Police Officer (DPO). The N493,500 offered as bribe, the Volvo truck with which they were about TO cart away the vandalised cables, the saw blades they used as tools for cutting those underground cables and, of course, the cables that have been loaded in to the truck, were recovered and would be used as exhibits.

    “Efforts are on to arrest the third suspect, Wasiu Salami, who is on the run. The two suspects we have will be arraigned before the court on Tuesday.”

    Sise denied being a vandal, saying he was a scrap dealer who usually bought items in smaller quantities from some men.

    According to him, he did not know his customers usually stole the items they sold to him.

    Sise said he was only told by the same group of boys that they had a big business for him.

    He said: “Some guys usually sold scraps to me but in little quantities, about N3,000 or N5,000. I don’t really know much about these guys, but I know they live at Apapa. They came to me on Sunday and said they wanted to bring a big business for me. But they requested for a huge amount of money, which I refused to give them.

    “I insisted on accompanying them to the place. So, on getting there, I already knew it wasn’t legal. I asked them how they planned to do it and they said they were doing it with a police patrol team. Even before we left, they made me speak with the policemen.

    “We went in the night. I saw the patrol team and the boys. I do not know how to cut; I only buy and sell. So, I just left there and went to a club at Ikeja under bridge. After two hours, I went back and saw that they had finished the job.

    “We were packing the cables into the truck when another patrol team came. The two patrol teams met there. I’m saying the truth. So, the patrol team that arrested me was discussing with the patrol team we were with already.

    “Our patrol team came to me and asked how much I could afford to give those people to settle them. I said they should negotiate with them and that any amount they agreed. We agreed that they would come and meet me and I would give them, if I had it with me.

    “Later, he came to me and said I should give him N300,000. At that time, I had only N250,000. I had to go back and get money to complete it. I came back and gave them the money. The boys who stole the cable and loaded the vehicle were still around when I brought the money.

    “The police told the driver to drive the vehicle to the station. We followed, even with the boys. When we got there, he (a policeman) said he would take N500,000 and I didn’t have any more money. I had to go back that night to knock on people’s doors to beg for money, just because I wanted to settle it. I came back, gave him the balance of N200,000, which is the money here.

    “After collecting the money, he said I should stay with the driver that in the morning, when the DPO comes, we would talk. I stayed till the DPO came, and that was it. The police didn’t arrest the boys. They went away scot-free. I have been doing this business for 13 years now. I have never been to a police station. I don’t know if this was a trap set for me.”

    The driver, Babatunde, said he was promised N30,000 to drive the truck, adding that he agreed because he was told some policemen were part of the arrangement.

     

  • ‘PDP vandalising APC billboards in Lagos’

    ‘PDP vandalising APC billboards in Lagos’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of defacing and vandalising billboards, posters and banners of its candidates across the local governments.

    The ruling party said suspected thugs masquerading as members of the illegal Federal Task Force in Lagos were instigated by the PDP to cause mayhem and  provoke APC leaders and followers.

    The Publicity Secretary, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, who raised the alarm that the PDP was inciting war, said the evidence of vandalisation of campaign materials are visible in Gbagada, Third Mainkand, Osborn and Victoria Island, where vandalised APC banners were replaced with those of the PDP.

    He lamented that suspected thugs and hoodlums instigated by the PDP invaded Osborn with dangerous weapons removed the posters of the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, and the presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the police deliberately refused to stop the brigandage.

    Igbokwe added: “Last wednesday, the PDP mobilised its members and thugs and held road users and traffic on Ikorodu Road for eight hours in the pretext of holding rallies. In the process, they targeted all APC posters, billboards and posters on the road for destruction and removal. We are yet to see any police action against such act of recklessness and rascality. This was the same police that threatened to arrest LASAA officials for regulating indiscriminate defacement of Lagos with posters and handbills.”

    The party official said that the PDP is planning to instigate violence because it has been rejected by Nigerians. He added: “The PDP thinks it can overwhelm Lagos with brute force and state sponsored criminality and, if it is so sure that it will win Lagos, as it has been boasting, why is it precipitating a war in Lagos?

    “Does it also have the capacity to manage the war in the unlikely event that it wins a state where it is not welcome? Our members are running out of patience in this continued provocation. While we are trying our utmost best to restrain our members from being drawn into any war that will undermine our well oiled wheel of change, we warn that there is a limit to tolerance and that our members may be forced to react, if to defend themselves and their interests.

    “Our silence should not be mistaken for submission and docility. We may be forced to react, if pushed to the wall and the perpetrators of this on-going deliberate brigandage will be held responsible for this. We call on the Lagos State Police Commissioner and his command to act quickly and decisively to stop this brigandage. We cannot continue to complain while the PDP is deliberately allowed to breach the security and peace of Lagos. Lagosians will not tolerate this criminality any longer.”