The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has arrested a 39-year-old man, Anuba Chisom, over the alleged vandalism of an IHS-MTN telecommunications mast in Okpuno, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe University temporary site in Awka.
Chisom, a native of Amaputa, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, was arrested at about 4 a.m. on Thursday following credible intelligence received by operatives during a routine patrol in the area.
The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Olatunde Maku, disclosed this while parading the suspect at the command’s headquarters in Awka. He said the suspect was apprehended at the scene with vandalised cables and other components of the telecommunications facility.
According to Maku, the arrest followed reports of unusual movement inside the IHS-MTN mast, identified by site number IHS_ANA_0888A, in Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area, near the palace of the community’s traditional ruler.
The commandant said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect was allegedly linked to a syndicate responsible for the increasing cases of infrastructure vandalism in the state.
He added that the suspect had reportedly confessed to vandalising two other telecommunications sites before the latest incident, attributing his actions to unemployment.
Maku commended the operatives for their vigilance and warned individuals involved in the destruction of public infrastructure to desist from such activities, stressing that unemployment was not a justification for criminal conduct.
He urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to assist the corps in tackling vandalism and protecting critical infrastructure across the state.
The commandant has directed a thorough investigation into the incident, after which the suspect is expected to be charged to court.
