NSCDC parades 6 over vandalisation of telecom facilities

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Benue State yesterday paraded six suspects for alleged vandalisation of 12 telecommunication batteries belonging to MTN in Gboko Local Government Area of the state.

State Commandant of the NSCDC, Kamilu Isah Ado, who paraded the suspects at the Command’s headquarter in Makurdi, said the suspects specialize in vandalizing batteries from telecommunication mast cited around Gboko area of the state.

Ado said his men arrested six out of the 8-man criminal gang on April 16, while the two others escaped, adding that operatives from the command are currently on their trail.

He explained that the suspects mostly indigenes of Anambara State, had vandalised over 127 batteries from MTN solar mast within the Gboko area but admitted to have stolen only 23 after being caught with the 12 items recovered from them.

The NSCDC commandment further disclosed that investigation revealed that each of the batteries cost N25 million, noting that the suspects after stealing the batteries would convey them in a Super Duty Ford Ambulance from the point of vandalisation so at to evade security checks to Makurdi.

One of the suspects, Emmanuel Yeke, who admitted to the crime, said they go out at odd hours to vandalise the batteries and then put them in a waiting ambulance to convey the stolen items to the buyers so as to avoid being caught by security agent.