A man named Emeka Ugwu, aged 27, has been taken into custody by the police in Edo State.
He is accused of causing damage to government property and stealing electrical equipment, such as cables from a BEDC transformer located on Upper Mission Road in Benin City.
Emeka was apprehended by members of a vigilante group who were on patrol duty and subsequently handed over to the police.
One other member of the group managed to escape.
The stolen cable has been recovered.
Emeka told The Standard Gazette, “I was pushed into stealing by my friend. I sell the equipment and use the money to take care of myself. The people almost killed me. Thank God that the police came on time”.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, warned that the police will not relent in ensuring the arrest of other members of the gang.
“I want to call on the people to continue to render useful information to the police that will ensure that criminals are arrested in due course. Theft of BEDC equipment is a serious economic crime . The suspect will be adequately charged to court after the final completion of investigation,” Nwabuzor said.
©Standard Gazette