One dead, three arrested as police raid ‘syndicate vandalising power installations’ in Anambra

The Anambra state police command says it has arrested three suspects in separate operations over alleged vandalism and theft of electricity installations in Onitsha and Obosi areas of the state.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the command’s spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday, said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) acted on credible intelligence and raided a vandals’ hideout along Atani road, Onitsha, on Friday.

He said three suspects — Adamu Ali, 25; Usman Sulaiman, 22; and Isah Abdullahi, 26 — were apprehended during the operation.

“The operatives also recovered from them bags of high-tension cable wires, melted cable wires and parts of transformer equipment,” he said.

Ikenga added that preliminary investigations revealed the suspects belonged to a syndicate that specialises in vandalising and selling power installations, with Lagos identified as their main sales outlet.

In a separate incident, the spokesperson said operatives attached to Isiowulu police station accosted four young men carrying a black shopping bag during patrol along Ascension Anglican Church road, Obosi.

“On sighting the security operatives, three of the suspects fled, while the fourth suspect, whose name and address are yet to be verified, was apprehended with the bag,” he added.

“A search conducted on the bag revealed assorted colours of armoured cables cut-to-size, one big yellow iron cutter, one black iron cutter, one ash-coloured glass cutter, one black hand glove and one yellow hand glove, one black sling, one bag containing a yellow background long-sleeve shirt, a bunch of two keys and a pair of rubber slippers.”

Ikenga explained that while the suspect was being escorted to the police, he attempted to escape by jumping down from a storey building.

He said the suspect was re-arrested but sustained gunshot injuries in the process.

“Consequently, he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead. His body has been deposited at the morgue for autopsy,” Ikenga noted.

He said all recovered items are in police custody, while the weapon used by the vigilante team has also been secured.

The spokesperson noted that a full-scale investigation into both incidents has commenced, with efforts ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover more stolen items.

“The command reiterates its warning to criminal elements engaging in sabotage of public utilities that the police will relentlessly fish them out,” Ikenga said.

“The command also urges Ndi Anambra to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around government installations to the nearest police station for necessary action.”