‘Engineers’ raid Abia telecom mast sites, steal batteries

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Saturday paraded three suspected telecommunication vandals in the state who disguised as engineers to steal masts’ backup batteries belonging to telecommunication firms.

Addressing journalists at the command’s headquarters, Uyo, the state capital, the state Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, said six mast backup batteries and a Toyota Camry used for their criminal acts were recovered.

The police boss, who said they were arrested on March 21, 2023, gave the name of the suspects as Chinwe Nwabara, Bright Godswill and Chinedu Nweke.

According to him, the suspects who disguised as engineers drove in an ash coloured Toyota Camry with number plate No KJA 321 FS and stole equipment valued at over N1.6m.

Durosinmi said, “On March 21, 2023, around 5pm, based on a reliable report that hoodlums who disguised as engineers drove with an ash colour Toyota Camry with number plate KJA 321 FS, around Uyo, Abak, Oron and Okobo locations, vandalised and stole mast back-up batteries belonging to telecommunication firms valued at N1.6m, a painstaking investigation by Eagle Response Squad of the command led to the arrest of three suspects namely Chinwe Nwabara, Bright Godswill and Chinedu Nweke.

“Six mast backup batteries and the Toyota Camry used for their criminal activities were recovered.”

The CP who also paraded other suspects explained that the synergy between the police and other sister agencies during the period helped the police to record the feat.

PUNCH