By Ado Oyeyemi
The Abia State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a police sergeant and 18 other suspects over the alleged theft of underground pipelines in the Nkwonta area of Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 143 Battalion during a security operation on Friday while allegedly dismantling and loading stolen pipeline infrastructure into a heavy-duty trailer.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspects were apprehended at the scene of the operation and subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigation and prosecution.
The 19 suspects reportedly comprise a police sergeant attached to the Ovim Division of the Nigeria Police Force, whose name was withheld, a truck driver, a bus driver, a conductor, 12 loaders and two panel beaters or metal cutters.
Confirming the arrest of the police officer on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, said the command had commenced an investigation into the incident.
“We are investigating the matter,” she told PUNCH Metro in response to an enquiry.
The Head of Media and Public Relations of the NSCDC in Abia State, CSC Ndukwe Agu Egwu, who spoke on behalf of the State Commandant, also confirmed that the suspects were undergoing profiling and would soon be arraigned.
The arrest has attracted commendation from the Executive Mayor of Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Chinedu Ekeke, who praised the Commanding Officer of the 143 Battalion, Lt Col A. M. Rabe, the leader of the team that carried out the operation, Lt F. A. Bashir, and other soldiers involved.
Ekeke described the operation as a major breakthrough in efforts to tackle vandalism and protect public and private infrastructure in the area.
He said the military personnel demonstrated professionalism and commitment by responding swiftly to the incident, adding that their conduct reflected the standard expected of security operatives.
The mayor recalled that he had raised concerns days before the arrests over increasing cases of vandalism in the local government area.
According to him, the reported incidents included an attempted theft of materials at the council’s pig farm, the vandalism of high-tension cables linking Amiyi Obinaohia to Abia State University, and other attacks on public infrastructure.
He said the latest arrest underscored the need for sustained security operations to protect public assets and prevent further destruction of valuable infrastructure.
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Ekeke assured residents that the suspects would be made to face the full weight of the law.
