By CHARLES IWUOHA

No fewer than five suspected criminals were on Monday arrested by Ebonyi State Police Command over alleged conspiracy, stealing and vandalization of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, armoured cables in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP. Aliyu Garba, made this known in a statement signed and issued to journalists in Abakaliki through the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Chris Anyanwu on Monday.

The commissioner noted that the suspected criminals, who hails from Inyimagu Amuzu community in Ezza South and Izzi LGAs, specialize in vandalizing and stealing EEDC armoured cables and assorted other electrical installations.

The suspected criminals, who were arrested by the police include; Onyekachi Igwe ‘m’ 35, Okemiri Michael, ‘m’ 33, Ogechi Umoke ‘f’ 21, Nwonu Ugochukwu ‘m’ 18, and Nwegu Ikechukwu ‘m’ 21.

The police boss stated further that: “The Crack Squad of Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested part of a syndicate of criminals who specialize in vandalizing and stealing EEDC armoured cables and assorted other electrical installations.

“The criminals conspired and went to Amalekwuna Ameka in Ezza South LGA and vandalized EEDC transformer and other electrical installations thereto, carting away armored cables yet to be estimated in monetary terms.

Items recovered from the suspected criminals include; “100mm armored cables, other assorted electrical wares.”

The owner of a white bus with Reg. No. AWK 173 XC with which the exhibits were collected. A sales girl and boy at the scrap shop Automobile Site Abakaliki and a native of Ukwuakparata Izzi LGA was also arrested.

Other suspected criminals that are at large includes; Nwite Chidi (owner of the pit) from Onuebonyi Izzi LGA and Uchenna (other names not yet known) hired by the driver.

The commissioner, however, tasked community leaders not to allow vandals cart away the belongings of EEDC cables and other belongings in the state.