The Cross River State Police Command has detained three additional suspects over the alleged theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure in Calabar, while releasing two others after preliminary investigations found no evidence of their involvement.
The arrests followed the interrogation of the principal suspect, Peter Adie, 36, who was earlier arrested over the alleged vandalism at Agbo Ntoe Layout, Boulevard Road 2, off Parliamentary Extension, Calabar.
The police spokesperson, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said in a statement on Thursday that information obtained from Adie led operatives to extend their investigation to Murtala Mohammed Highway, around Pepsi, and a dumpsite in the Harbour area of the city.
The operation resulted in the arrest of five additional persons for questioning over their suspected links to the alleged theft and receipt of electricity materials.
Those arrested were identified as Tochukwu Nwogwu, Boniface Egede, Mustapha Isa Aliyu, Yakubu Musa and Emmanuel Hope.
However, Yakubu Musa and Emmanuel Hope were released after preliminary investigations found them not culpable. Adie and three other suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.
Akata said the command was pursuing further leads to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged offence and determine the roles, if any, of the remaining suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting critical public infrastructure and ensuring that anyone found culpable of vandalism faces the law.
The police urged members of the public to provide credible information to support the investigation and warned against buying or receiving materials suspected to have been stolen from electricity installations.
The command added that the allegations remain under investigation and that the suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court.
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