Police arrest Ex-Bayelsa Govt House staff, 14 others over allege vandalism …”I stole because of hunger, we have not been paid for five months” – Suspect

Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a 41 year old former casual staff of Bayelsa State Government House identified as Yinkere Goodman over his allege involvement in the vandalization of power transmission facilities including solar batteries from the State Government House.

Also arrested were 14 other suspects involved in serial theft of armoured cables and, power transformers.

Goodman, was among 15 suspects paraded by the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli, at the State Police Command Headquarters, in Yenagoa on Monday.

According to the CP, the other suspects were arrested for various economic crimes ranging from vandalizing of amoured cables, solar batteries transformers, and other electrical accessories for street lights.

Goodman, who said he used to work at the Government House as a drainage cleaner, said he resorted to the crime as he has not been paid for over five months.

While confessing to the crime, he narrated that he carried out the act alone because of hunger. He said: “I don’t want to involve anybody. I used to work as a drainage cleaner in Government House as a casual worker. I’m from Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, we have not been paid for five months, and I committed the crime because of hunger.”

Addressing newsmen, the Commissioner of Police, CP Okoli said: “You may recalled that recently I directed the Divisional Police Officers and Head of Departments to rejig their crime fighting strategy this festive season. This strategy has paid off with the arrest of suspects who specialize in vandalizing armoured cables, solar batteries, transformers, and other electrical accessories for street lights, theeby sabotaging the efforts of the government in ensuring steady supply to members of the public.

“On December 15 at about 0700hrs, one Sulieman Abdulahi male 31 years , one Samaila, male, 23 years, one Gazali Shuabu, 18 years, one Sagir 25 years, and one Is a Umar, 23 years stole armoured cables and other electrical accessories at Sanni Abacha Express Road. They were arrested by police and the stolen items recovered and investigation is ongoing.

“On December 14 at about 0500hrs, one Mr. Bright Ibe, male 55 years, Mrs Okechukwu Nwuebike, female, 52 years and Justice Moses, 20 years conspired with others now at large and stole 25KVA Transformer at Gabriel Okara and 50KV at Hospital Road, the suspects were caught in the act and the items recovered.

“On November 17, at about 0500hrs, one Tarilade Okosu, 23, years was arrested with a high tension crossbar at Ogbogoro Community, Yenagoa, he confessed, that he stole the items from Ayama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA. All suspects have confessed to the crime, investigation is ongoing and they will soon be charge to court after investigation are concluded.”

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