By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Government has decried the nefarious activities of suspected hoodlums who are vandalizing and stealing cables and accessories of the new cost-saving solar street lights being installed to illuminate the roads and streets at night.

The government also said that it has become a regular thing for some reckless drivers to knock down the street light poles and zoom off without any remorse as if the facility was not put there with taxpayers’ money, saying that behaviours could no longer be tolerated.

This was contained in a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Nwosu, and made available to journalists in Awka.

The statement partly reads: “The Street Lights Monitoring Committees set up by the Ministry of Power and Water Resources are hereby directed by the Government to be more vigilant and firm in the exercise of their responsibilities which is to protect and apprehend these culprits.

“Government is calling on the local Street Light Monitoring Committees and the communities’ leaders to take full ownership of these assets and guard them with eagle eyes.

“Anybody caught pilfering or destroying the street solar lights cables or accessories should be immediately apprehended and handed over to the Police.

“Government is also urging the Anambra State Police Command to direct its local Police Stations to cooperate with the Street Lights Monitoring Committees so that these suspected thieves and vandals will be expeditiously prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Nwosu stressed that the state could only make the needed progress if the retrogressive elements were put in check, adding that transforming Anambra into a livable and prosperous homeland “is an agenda with a deadline that must not be truncated by the bad eggs in our midst.”