The Zone 16 Police Command has detained 14 people in connection with the suspected vandalism of 132KV transmission towers in Bayelsa and adjacent Rivers States.
Mr. Emonena Gunn, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, stated on Monday that their detention was the result of a plea to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16, by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Power, Kharin Komuko.
Gunn stated that on September 11, 2024, agents from the Surveillance and Intelligence Section of the Criminal Investigation Department responded to the plea by arresting 14 individuals.
The suspects are Christopher Chimelam Onyeno, male, 22; and Chinyereugo Ukommaduakolam, male, 29; both from Imo State; and Believe Ajudu, male, 37; Believe Chimela, male, 30; and Usman Albert Odumanyuyah, male, 50, all from Rivers State.
Others include Newman Ejimadu, male, 32; Pentecost Godwin, male, 36; Ogbunike Morgan, male, 20; Julius Okpuhigwe, male, 54; and Moses Stephen, male, 26, all from Rivers State; Abubakar Umaru, male, 26 from Sokoto State; and Emmanuel John, male, 35; Kabiru Usman, male, 30; and Aminu Sanusi, male, 20; all from Kano State.
According to the police chief, they were all implicated in the vandalism of the 132 KV Transmission Tower Line on 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.”
The AIG Zone 16 Manager, Paul Alifa Omata, underlined his steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property inside the zone and asked residents to take all necessary precautions to protect the properties in their proximity.
Omata stated that the Nigeria Police Force, led by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetukon, has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and urged residents to cooperate and support the police in order to achieve a crime-free society.
It should be noted that 13 power transmission towers in Rivers and Bayelsa states were vandalised two months ago, causing a prolonged power outage in Bayelsa State.
