Two suspected vandals were reportedly arrested by soldiers in Otukpo, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The suspects were reported to have been arrested while vandalising the equipment and installations at the Benue Burnt Bricks facility in Otukpo.
Our correspondent learnt that the suspected vandals had stormed the company located on the federal highway in Otukpo on Saturday night but were apprehended by soldiers who were at the checkpoint nearby.
The suspects were identified as Wilson Egbanga (16) and Okoh Akoja (40), both claimed to be residents of Otukpo Local Government Area.
A resident of Otukpo, simply known as Adaji, told our correspondent on Sunday that some people around who saw the suspects sent information to soldiers who promptly swung into action, leading to their arrest.
Confirming the arrest of the suspected vandals, the chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, said that the suspects were handed over to officials of the State Security Service in Otukpo.
The chairman, who spoke through his media aide, Joshua Otene, said, “the suspects were arrested at the scene,” and listed items recovered from them to include several cut sheets of heavy metal, a massive mallet, spanners, two large gas cylinders, and a smaller gas cylinder attached with hoses suspected to be used for cutting metal
When contacted via phone on Sunday, the Otukpo DSS Second-in-Command, Mr. Aba Bashi, confirmed the arrest of the suspects and added that they were still in their custody and would soon be transferred to Makurdi.
“It’s true that two suspected vandals arrested by soldiers were brought to our office, and they will soon be transferred to Makurdi,” Bashi said.
Vandalism remains one of the serious threats to Nigeria’s infrastructure and industrialisation drive, crippling public assets and frustrating developmental efforts.
The Benue Burnt Bricks was established by Governor Aper Aku of blessed memory, but it had been moribund for years, with some of the equipment and facilities vandalised.
Efforts to get the reaction of the state command were not successful as the spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to her cellphone as of the time of filing this report.
