Youths in Aliade, Gwer – East Local Government Area of Benue State have arrested two suspected vandals and handed them over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
The suspects, one Mr. Peter Awanger who resides in Aliade, was caught vandalising the transformer located at the LGEA Primary School at about 2a.m on August 23, 2021.
Upon his arrest, the youths invited the traditional ruler of Aliade, His Royal Highness, Chief John Wunde to the scene of the incident before handing him over to the police.
While the suspected was being interrogated, he confessed to vandalising five Distribution Transformers within the locality.
He also confessed to selling the vandalised items; armoured cables, feeder pillars units, spans of aluminium conductors among other parts to one Mr. Christian Odunwa in Makurdi.
Following his confession, the police took him to Makurdi where the said Odunwa was identified and promptly arrested on August 24, 2021.
Both the suspected vandal and his buyer have been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Police headquarters in Makurdi for further action.
Before the arrest of the vandal, staff of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, (JED), have been accused by the youth in Aliade of being responsible for the incessant vandalisation of Distribution Transformers in the area.
The accusation and suspicion led to the manhandling of some staff of the company by the youth even when the accused staff pleaded their innocence and insisted that the crimes were being committed by some unscrupulous elements in the community.
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When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue state Command, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident saying the suspected vandal is now in police custody.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, Hashim Bakori, has commended the youths and the traditional ruler for protecting electricity installations in their domain.
Bakori in a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications
Mr. Adakole Elijah, stated that he was optimistic that the police would take a decisive action to serve as deterrent to others.
He further urged members of the various communities in the company’s franchise states to emulate the youth and leadership of Aliade Community saying, “injury to any electricity installations should be viewed as injury to their entire communities.”