The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday arrested two ‘contract’ staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over electricity cable vandalism.
Mr Paul Odimba, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of NSCDC, Ebonyi command, said that the suspects (names withheld) were arrested for vandalising 21mm of aluminum wire.
Odimba, who represented the NSCDC State Commandant, Lucy Samu, said that the corps’ anti-vandalism squad arrested the suspects on a tip-off at the point of vandalism.
“They were subsequently brought to the corp’s state command as the EEDC Ebonyi office had confirmed that the suspects were its ‘contract’ staff.
“The EEDC confirmed that the suspects were actually sent on an official assignment and on completion, decided to engage in the act which led to their arrest.
“We are investigating the matter and the suspects would be prosecuted according to the law when the investigation is concluded.”
He said that the corps would redouble its efforts to rid the state of vandals and assist in identifying those actually involved in vandalising or destroying public infrastructure.
One of the suspects told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “I was sent on an official assignment with one of the office’s drivers to rectify an installation fault at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters junction in Abakaliki and I rectified the fault.
“When I finished the rectification, I received a ‘distress call of another fault at Presco area of the town and immediately rushed to the area.
“A stakeholder in charge of security in the area urged me to cut the cables to rectify the fault and when I finished, some youths descended on me, accusing me of vandalising the cables.
“I managed to tell them as they ‘pummeled’ me, that the stakeholder directed me to cut the cable but surprisingly, the stakeholder denied and joined in accusing me of vandalising the cables.”
Mr Emeka Eze, Head Corporate Communications of EEDC, said that the suspects who are still in NSCDC custody, will be interrogated and face prosecution accordingly.
“Vandalism is a big challenge to our operations and we have been doing everything to address the issue in collaboration with the government and security agencies, among other stakeholders. We have zero tolerance for corruption,’’ he said.
