A suspected vandal was shot dead in Anambra State by vigilante operatives after he attempted to escape from custody, the police confirmed on Friday.
The state police spokesperson, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, explained in a statement that the incident occurred on Thursday during a patrol operation.
How the incident happened
According to Mr Ikenga, the suspect and three others had been confronted by the vigilante group while carrying a black bag.
“On sighting the security operatives, three of the suspects fled, while the fourth suspect, whose name and address are yet to be verified, was apprehended with the bag,” he said.
He noted that the bag contained various tools used for dismantling electricity facilities. Items recovered included different lengths of cut armoured cables, a large yellow iron cutter, a black iron cutter, a grey-coloured glass cutter, black and yellow hand gloves, and a black sling.
Other materials in the bag were a long-sleeved yellow shirt, a bunch of two keys, a pair of rubber slippers, and another small bag.
Mr Ikenga explained that the suspect was placed under arrest but later tried to break free while being taken, with the exhibits, to a police station.
“In the process of re-arresting him, he sustained gunshot injuries.
“He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“His body has been deposited at the morgue for autopsy.”
Arrest of three more suspects
The police spokesperson further disclosed that, in a separate operation on the same day, three men were arrested in Onitsha for allegedly vandalising power installations.
He identified the suspects as 25-year-old Adamu Ali, 22-year-old Usman Sulaiman, and 26-year-old Isah Abdullahi.
“The operatives also recovered from them bags of high-tension cable wires, melted cable wires and parts of transformer equipment.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are part of a syndicate that specialises in vandalising and selling power installations, with Lagos identified as their major sales outlet,” he said.
Police investigation
Ikenga added that all exhibits recovered had been taken into custody and that the weapons used by the vigilante operatives during the first incident had equally been secured.
He confirmed that investigations had begun into both cases and assured that efforts were underway to track down the suspects who fled during the first operation.
He also restated the police position on acts of sabotage against public facilities.
He said: “The police in the state again warned that they would fish out criminals engaging in sabotage of public utilities.”
The police called on residents to remain alert and report any unusual movement or suspected criminal activity around electricity installations to the authorities.
A recurring problem in the South-east
Cases of vandalism targeting public power infrastructure have grown across the South-east in recent months.
Barely a day before the Anambra incidents, another suspected vandal died in Abia State. The unidentified man was believed to have been electrocuted while allegedly attempting to cut wires from a transformer.