The Nation Newspaper

Tag: vandalism

  • Akiolu condemns vandalism, theft of power equipment

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, yesterday condemned vandalism and theft of power equipment by those he described as criminal elements within the society.

    Akiolu made the condemnation when the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) led by the company’s Managing Director; Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi visited at his Iga-Iduganran Palace in Lagos.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications Unit of EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, quoted Akiolu in a statement as saying that the perpetrators of the vandalism were enemies of the society.

    “All well-meaning people should join hands to stop them,’’ the traditional ruler said.

    The monarch remarked that improvement in power supply being experienced would trigger socio-economic development and create more jobs.

    He said protection of power equipment should be the concern of all lovers of development.

    Akiolu told his guests that he had been doing his best to enlighten his subjects, on the need to pay more for electricity since distribution had been privatised and to ensure improved electricity.

    The monarch advised EKEDC to look inward and fish out bad eggs within its fold.

    He noted that some of the officials of the company were in the habit of colluding with people to engage in illegal connection.

    Akiolu suggested the establishment of a special task force, comprising top officials of the company and security operatives, to monitor power supply situation.

    The traditional ruler said that the task force should also coordinate the activities of members of staff of the company and the public to forestall vandalism, energy theft and other sharp practices.

  • Akiolu condemns vandalism, theft of power equipment

    the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, yesterday condemned vandalism and theft of power equipment by those he described as criminal elements within the society.

    Akiolu made the condemnation when the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) led by the company’s Managing Director; Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi visited at his Iga-Iduganran Palace in Lagos.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications Unit of EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, quoted Akiolu in a statement as saying that the perpetrators of the vandalism were enemies of the society.

    “All well-meaning people should join hands to stop them,’’ the traditional ruler said.

    The monarch remarked that improvement in power supply being experienced would trigger socio-economic development and create more jobs.

    He said protection of power equipment should be the concern of all lovers of development.

    Akiolu told his guests that he had been doing his best to enlighten his subjects, on the need to pay more for electricity since distribution had been privatised and to ensure improved electricity.

    The monarch advised EKEDC to look inward and fish out bad eggs within its fold.

    He noted that some of the officials of the company were in the habit of colluding with people to engage in illegal connection.

    Akiolu suggested the establishment of a special task force, comprising top officials of the company and security operatives, to monitor power supply situation.

    The traditional ruler said that the task force should also coordinate the activities of members of staff of the company and the public to forestall vandalism, energy theft and other sharp practices.

    He said the palace would be willing to mobilise all quarter chiefs and residents of Lagos Island to work with the task force, when constituted.

  • Ikeja Electric to customers: desist from energy theft, vandalism

    The management of Ikeja Electric has appealed to customers to desist from meter bypass, vandalism and tampering with facilities, including meters, as anyone caught will be prosecuted.

    Its Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Felix Ofulue, made the appeal when the leadership of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC), led by its new Chairman, Olatunde Dodondawa, visited the distribution company at its Ikeja head office.

    He stressed that the company was committed to metering customers within its network as soon as possible. According to Ofulue, the company has since launched concerted effort aimed at curbing unethical practices across its network and also encouraged customers to report such practices.

    “Very soon, there will be massive prosecution of those that have tampered with meters, and we are going to step up on that because the rate at which people tamper with their meters is very high. We are not going to accept a situation where something is supplied and it is not paid for,” Ofulue stated.

    Also, he explained that metering is one of the major items to be addressed by Ikeja Electric when handling over estimated billing.He noted that: “With these meters, the customers can regulate their consumption unlike the estimated billing or post-paid where they hardly notice the units consumed. They can manage their own consumption and it makes them to pay for what they consumed. To the distribution company, meters relieve the firm the cost and staff the burden of preparing and distributing bills. With meters, DisCos will collect revenue maximally without estimated billing.”

    He also condemned the increasing vandalism of equipment within its operation, adding that it has forced the company to spend money meant for other electricity development projects on repairs.

    He said electricity materials such as cables and wires, among others, had either been stolen or vandalised.

    Ofulue called on energy reporters to help educate consumers on the challenges of the power sector and the need for customers to pay their bills.

    He maintained that a  lot of electricity consumers in Nigeria are oblivious of the transition that has happened from public to private enterprise and as such do not see electricity as a commodity to be bought and paid for. They, therefore devise multiple ways of engaging in electricity theft through meter tampering or outright bypass.

  • Civil Defence probes shooting, vandalism

    Civil Defence probes shooting, vandalism

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday began investigation into an allegation that its officials shot and injured a resident of Ikarama, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    It was learnt that the civil defence team stormed the community after pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) were vandalised.

    The operatives were said to have gone to the community on Monday night to arrest a suspect, Orukari Udoji.

    Sensing danger, he reportedly ran away, compelling the team to arrest a woman, Deborah, identified as his wife.

    It was gathered that as they were leaving the community, members of a vigilance group confronted them. There was a confrontation, leading to gunshots.

    A youth leader, Mr. Ben Warder, alleged that a member of the vigilance group, Perekurofa Odoyibo, was shot twice in the arm and leg.

    “The local vigilance team noticed the NSCDC van about 3am and was trying to find out why they had to take away a woman, who is having children under her care, for an offence allegedly committed by her husband.

    “They shot one of them and sped off with the woman. They came from the oilfield at Ikarama operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company. The youth mobilised and blocked the road to Okordia manifold”, he said.

    The Nation learnt that the woman suspect was quizzed and released.

    Attempts by the security team to arrest more suspects yesterday caused protest by youths, who allegedly cut off a bridge leading to the area to deny the team access.

    A visit to Ikarama oilfields showed that youths protested and barricaded the road, chanting solidarity songs.

    Wife of the injured victim, Rebacca Odoyibo, lamented that her husband was shot and left in a pool of blood.

    “Look at what they did to my husband who volunteered for the community vigilance work? He is there in pains. We lack the resources to take him to hospital. We have resorted to local treatment because of lack of money,” she said.

    Udoji denied involvement in pipeline vandalism, saying he went to the forest for logging when security operatives came to his home.

    State Commandant Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu said the community experienced attacks on pipelines.

    He said following the determination of the command, it compiled a list of persons alleged to have been involved in the sabotage.

    Nwachukwu said the suspects were being arrested for interrogation, alleging that Udoji ran away to evade arrest.

    He said: “But the team apprehended a woman in his home for interrogation. Some people tried to stop them from doing their job, thereby endangering their lives. They hauled stones at them.

    “The team only shot into the air to escape from the scene. We are looking into the allegation of shooting to know where the gunshot emanated from. But our men are trained to handle arms professionally.

    “No matter how they try to blackmail us, we cannot fold our arms and watch people vandalise oil pipelines in that community. It is a national security issue and an economic sabotage, which is against the law.”

  • Army demands N18b more to battle terrorism, vandalism in 2018 Budget

    Army demands N18b more to battle terrorism, vandalism in 2018 Budget

    The Army yesterday urged the National Assembly to increase its budget by N18. 177 billion to enable it effectively fight against terrorism, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges.

    It also said it should be removed from the zero based budgeting (ZBB) otherwise known as the envelop budget ceiling system adopted by the Budget Office of the Federation.

    Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai made the demands during a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Army.

    According to him, the envelop budgeting system was making the Army ineffective operationally.

    The Army, he said, requires at least N39, 800 billion capital components and had requested for N261.6 billion, but the Budget Office approved only N233.05 billion in the budget estimates with the National Assembly.

    “It is in consideration of the aforementioned priorities, coupled with the new NA ORBAT implementation that the NA is seeking your kind appropriation of the sum of N39,800,211,098 billion for capital expenditure,” he said.

    Gen. Buratai: “My passionate appeal for N18.177 billion over the ceiling capital appropriation, if approved by this hallowed chamber will enable the Army procure the strategic assets and platforms needed to support the implementation of ORBAT 2016.

    “This will also boost the operational activation of the newly established Divisions (6,7, and 8), cater for the deficiency of arms, ammunitions as well as uniforms to kit the NA personnel.

    “I wish to state that the approval will ultimately enhance the functionality of the Nigerian Army Aviation corps which is established to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Airforce and Joint Task Force (JTF) to combat terrorism, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges”

    The committee’s  suggestion that the Army adopts the construction of high-rise buildings in its barracks as a way of conserving space and resources, he said, was in order, adding that direct labour approach to projects execution would be sustained.

    “We will continue to engage our Army Engineers to execute our projects”, he stated.

    Lawmakers agreed that because of challenges being faced by the Army to tackle insurgency, there was need for it to have some measure of budgetary flexibility, and so the need to remove it from the envelop budgeting system.

    The Chairman of the committee, Rimam Shawulu, noted that  Army barracks across the country were dilapidated.

  • Civil Defence seeks collaboration on vandalism

    The Commander of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu, has stressed the need for collaboration among security agencies in checking vandalism.

    He spoke yesterday when he visited the Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Ikechukwu Igwe, in Yenagoa, in continuation of his tour of security formations.

    “This visit is fundamental to the corps and other security agencies because this is how we can familiarise ourselves and join forces for better operations.

    “FRSC is crucial in terms of maintaining peace and order, tranquility and safety on roads. So, we have come to seek more cooperation and synergy to perform national duty,” Nwachukwu said.

    According to him, NSCDC will leave intensify its efforts to rid the state of pipeline vandalism and other crimes.

    “We have our intelligence officers on the alert with other security agents to achieve the objectives,” he said.

    Igwe hailed NSCDC’s operations, assuring the new commander of a productive collaboration.

    “The relationship between FRSC and NSCDC has been quite cordial. We have been working like a family. I promise we will continue to ensure that law and order are maintained.

    “Let me assure you once again that with this visit, there will be more collaboration and synergy to rid the state of crime and maintain safer roads,” he said.

    The NSCDC commander earlier visited the Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), and Traditional Rulers’ Council, among others.

     

  • Police arrest three soldiers, eight others for ‘vandalism’

    The police have arrested three Nigerian Army (NA) personnel and eight others for allegedly vandalising solar panels belonging to the Lagos State Government and some telecommunication firms.

    The three soldiers from 81 Division, were whisked away by some officers.

    The eight others – Samuel Ani, 30, Michael Omoregbe, 30, Emmanuel  Efosa, 27, a dismissed Air Force officer Ifedayo Odufoye, 35, Chibizie Nnamani, 34, Festus Maduka, 26, John Nwokeoma, 31 and Chibuzor Chukwu, 23 – were paraded alongside 32 suspects arrested for various offences.

    It was gathered that the soldiers, whose identities were not given, were promised N150,000 to escort the stolen solar panels and batteries on September 5, before they were apprehended.

    According to Acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal, the ‘armed’ suspects specialised in vandalising government, private properties at Epe, Sangotedo and Badagry.

    He said 16 solar panels and 33 inverter batteries were recovered from the gang, adding that  18 cultists and 22 armed robbery suspects were apprehended.

    He said seven arms, eight live cartridges, and fake foreign currencies comprising $49,500, €6,000 and £1,500 were recovered.

    Edgal said: “On September 5, at about 2am, seven armed men invaded Okemagba Senior Secondary School, Epe, with three soldiers and a truck marked LND61XQ. They went straight to the solar panel and vandalised 71. They also forced the door of the container, where the inverter batteries and accessories were kept and stole them.

    “The local police were alerted and they mobilised a patrol team to the scene, where the suspects and three serving soldiers were arrested. Preliminary investigation led operatives of the command to track other suspects to Delta, Anambra and Imo states, where Festus Maduka was picked up in a hotel and he confessed to have received solar panels and inverter batteries from this armed robbery suspects,” he said.

    Confessing to the crime, Ani said he had made about N4 million since he started the business in June.

    Ani, who was a bus driver before taking to vandalism, said he recruited the other suspects, including the soldiers into the ‘lucrative business’.

    He said they erased the caveat inscribed in some of the vandalised items before reselling them to end users.

    “I sell each panel N25,000 to Festus at Arena market. I sell the batteries to him N27,000. I made like N4 million from it but I used to settle all those involved. It was Festus that helped me to get the three soldiers. They knew that the items were stolen that was why the escort fee was high. The dismissed Air Officer was also introduced to me by Festus. He has trucks and we needed the truck to carry the panels and batteries we vandalised. They all were aware that the items were stolen. We stole from public schools and telecommunications masts.”

    Odufoye, a dismissed Air Officer, denied he was a member of the gang, insisting that he was only contracted for haulage services.

    Edgal said the command on October 8, arrested a gang of suspected armed robbers terrorising Ijede, Ikorodu and robbing innocent citizens.

    He said 10 persons were arrested at the gang’s hideout at Egbin in Ijede including the suspected gang leader, Ayinla Azeez, 22, Balogun Yinka, 20, Begusa Oluwasegun, 32, Omolaja Oluwafemi, 29, Godday Samuel, 19, Dennis Ifeanyi, 34, Ogunsanya Yusuf, 27, Odubanjo Akeem, 35, Damilola Ogunbadero, 20 and Dayo Tedunjaiye, 23.

  • Security men in court for ‘theft, vandalism’

    Security men in court for ‘theft, vandalism’

    Two security men, Maurice Pius, 24 and Emmanuel Edet, 24, yesterday appeared at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly vandalising their employer’s vehicle.

    The accused are facing a three-count charge of alleged conspiracy, stealing and unlawful damage.

    Police prosecutor Cyriacus Osuji told the court that the accused allegedly committed the offences on September 17 at 9, Olayinka Adewuyi Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused conspired and damaged the rear side glass of a Honda CRV car: AAA 21 DN, belonging to the complainant, Mr. Tomina Ojo.

    Osuji, who alleged that the accused also stole items worth N410,000 from the vehicle, listed them as laptop, laptop bag, external hard drive and N40,000.

    He said the offences contravened sections 287, 350 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The duo pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Mrs. S. K. Matepo granted them bail at N100,000 each with two sureties.

    She said the sureties should be employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    Matepo adjourned the case till October 12 for mention.

  • Five held for vandalism in Abuja

    The police in Abuja have arrested three persons for allegedly vandalising facilities belonging to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

    Uchechi Onyemaizu, Daniel Ugboloke and Abdullahi Usman were arrested for vandalising iron poles and chain link fencing used as barrier around the railway lines in Kubwa. According to police, 80 pieces of iron pole have been recovered from the suspects and efforts are on to get the chain link fencing.

    Two workers of Delta Line – Suraju Aliyu and Hassan Yusuf – were also arrested for vandalising the CCTV stand at Wuye junction.

    This was contained in a statement yesterday by the spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah.

    The statement reads: “Policemen attached to Kubwa Area Command smashed a notorious syndicate that vandalised property of the Nigeria Railway Corporation.

    “The suspects, from Kaba area of Kagini, were arrested on July 6, about 10am, following a tip-off.

    “Their homes were searched and 80 pieces of iron poles were recovered. Efforts are on to recover the chain link fencing.”

    “On July 16, about 5.38pm, policemen attached to Wuye Division arrested Aliyu and Yusuf, of Delta Line Jabi Garage, for vandalising the CCTV stand at Wuye junction.

    “The rods have been recovered from the suspects as exhibits and the suspects will be charged after investigations.”

     

  • Man jailed 6 months for vandalism

    A magistrates’ court in Sokoto State on Tuesday sentenced one Tsalha Sani of Kofar Kade community in Sokoto to six months imprisonment for vandalising a transformer.

    Prosecuting Inspector Na’allah Jibo told court that Sani on April 23 vandalised the transformer and also stole some cables, whose value had not been determined.

    The convict was earlier arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft, punishable under Sections 327 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    Sani pleaded guilty.

    Magistrate Abubakar Adamu convicted him and sentenced him to six months imprisonment.