By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Ebonyi State Command, has paraded a Suspect, Chizoba Franklin, for alleged stealing of (26) 12 volts solar batteries belonging to the power house of the Permanent site at the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Abakaliki.

The suspect, who hails from Ngwo Nno, in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The State Commandant, Lucy Samu, who was represented at a press conference by the State Public Relations Officer, CSC Paul Odimba, in Abakaliki paraded the suspect on Tuesday.

According to Odimba, the suspects were five in number and said two of them were arrested in April, while three other members of the gang escaped the crime scene.

Chizoba was one of the Kingpin of the five man gang who was arrested recently, following investigations by plain detectives of the command.

"If you can recall, in April this year we paraded two suspects who were caught at the Ebonyi State University Permanent Site Power House, they vandalized the 12 Volts Solar Batteries of the power house of the school, 26 pieces of it, but luck ran out of them and our men were able to intercept them and brought them to the office," Odimba said.

He explained that while investigations was ongoing, the two suspects were granted bail of which they jumped, and said detectives are trailing them.

"Our investigation were ongoing and the two that we had with us then, jumped bail, so our plain detectives have been on thier trail and the other members of the gang,

"They were actually five in number, we caught two, three ran away, the ones we are parading today is one of the main kingpins of that incident, by name Otogbolo Franklin," he added.

Odimba noted that the School Power House batteries are 26 pieces and said they are parked in a vehicle at the State Headquarters, while investigations are ongoing and added the suspects will soon be charge to court.

The NSCDC Ebonyi spokesperson who restated the committiment of the command in combating crimes appealed for continued support and cooperation from members of the public by giving useful information to the command.

He said the command had dedicated telephone lines- through which members of the public can contact the NSCDC during emergencies.

"Let me also use this opportunity to inform the general public that Ebonyi State Command of Civil Defense now maintains a rapid response team, anytime anybody anywhere within Ebonyi State has any issue of emergency or not, you can always call a prompt response, 08056175592, 08036371880, 08154756586," he said,

Meanwhile, the suspect, Franklin Chizoba, speaking with newsmen, said he is a trader and sells electrical parts in Enugu State and is not aware of the Allegations in respect to the stolen batteries.

Chizoba, said: "It's a friend, I don't know anything about the stolen battery, my friend asked me to connect a car for him, so I connected one of my friend by name Ike, who brought in a driver to drive the car,

"The driver then told me that he wants to go and carry aluminum zinc to Abakaliki, that's all I know about this thing, I don't know if they stole battery or not, secondly I was not there, I only connected someone to the driver, that's my offence."

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