A community in Jigawa state have been thrown into darkness after a notorious vandal stole armoured cables worth N1.5 million.
The suspect identified as Abdullahi Muhammad has now been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Jigawa State.
He was caught vandalising and stealing streetlights armoured cables in Birniwa Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman of the Corps in the state, CSC Adamu Shehu, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on January 1, 2022, said the suspect’s action plunged the whole area into darkness.
The suspect, 48, from Bombori village, Nguru LGA, Yobe State, was arrested on Tuesday, 21st December 2021 at about 6:30 am along Sarkin Arewa Government Day Secondary School Birniwa.
“The vandalised armoured cable which covers an estimated area of about 3 kilometers and measuring 175 meters with each meter selling at the rate of N9,000 with total value of N1,575,000 has its rubber insulation stripped and the copper wire neatly wrapped, compressed and packaged by the suspect for concealment and ease of transportation. His action plunged the whole area into darkness,” Shehu stated.
“During the process of investigation and interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect was once arrested and charged to court on the same offence. The suspect confessed to the crime and will be charged to court of competent jurisdiction,” he added.
Meanwhile, the State Commandant, Mustapha Talba (CC), reiterated his commitment towards protecting critical assets and infrastructure in the State and promised to deal decisively with those bent towards destroying what the government has put in place for the security and betterment of the general public.
Talba further called on the general public to be more vigilant and assist with relevant information that will help security operatives in combating crime and criminality in the state.