Three suspected telecommunication vandals have been paraded by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for disguising as engineers to steal masts’ backup batteries belonging to telecommunication firms in the state. The Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, revealed that the suspects were arrested on March 21, 2023, by the command’s Eagle Response Squad after receiving credible information.
The suspects, identified as Chinwe Nwabara, Bright Godswill, and Chinedu Nweke, were found to have disguised as engineers and drove around different locations in Uyo, Abak, Oron, and Okobo to steal equipment worth over N1.6m before they were caught.
Six mast backup batteries and the Toyota Camry used for their criminal activities were recovered. In addition to the telecommunication vandals, the police commissioner also paraded four suspects who kidnapped a retired permanent secretary in the state, Ignatius Brown of Abak Local Government Area, and demanded a ransom of N80m.
While family members paid some ransom money to the suspects, police operatives were able to trace the kidnappers’ hideout, rescue the victim and arrest some of the suspects, recovering one locally-made pistol and three wooden guns.
