The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three vandals that specialise in attacking and carting away vandalised materials even within NNPC pipelines in Enugu.

The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC Enugu State Command, CSP Denny Manuel, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Monday.

Manuel said that on September 6, Chukwuemeka Okechukwu was arrested at about 4;30 p.m. at number 15 Colliery Avenue behind IBTC Bank premises with vandalised products suspected to be solar component meant for streetlights.

The Enugu NSCDC Spokesman said that Okechukwu claimed to be a dealer in scraps but the materials he was arrested with were not scraps.

“During further investigation, residence of the area testified that he has been terrorising the area with his gang members who are now at large. Investigation is ongoing and he will be charged to court soon,” he said.

In a related development, another vandal, Mr Ikenna Nneji, was arrested red handed bursting NNPC petroleum pipeline, while there was a series of test-run of petroleum shipment in the pipe.

Manuel said that Nneji was caught in the act at about 3 a.m. in Akpugo community in Nkanu West Local Government Area with three 25 litres of jerry cans already filled up with petroleum product from the broken pipeline.

“Other items recovered from the suspect instantly were six empty 25 litres jerry cans, a matchete, one shovel, one torch-light, two buckets and a funnel.

“Nneji revealed that he was recruited into the illicit business by one Sunday Ogbodo, who uses his tipper to convey the stolen petroleum product after the pipeline must have been attacked and petroleum scooped.

“The suspect took our men to Ogbodo’s house and identified the tipper (Mercedes Benz 1513 model) with registration number UWN 424 YT used in carrying out the illicit business,” he said.

The Enugu NSCDC Spokesman said that both suspects had been charged to court.

Update news