Three people have been detained in Makurdi, Benue State, for reportedly damaging electrical lines in the Demekpe area. One of them is a police officer named Innocent Ishaku.
The event happened on Tuesday, June 10 at about 4:00 a.m.
A neighbour claims that Ishaku was detained at the site by community vigilantes, while his two collaborators, Isa and Mohammed, who were both well-known locals who lived in the property of a car dealer named Alhaji Dash, first ran away but were subsequently taken into custody when Ishaku confessed.
Ishaku admitted to spending the last ten years stationed in Benue following a transfer from Abuja in a widely shared video on Facebook. Additionally, he acknowledged that he had participated in other cable thefts, mostly in the Wadata region.
Recovered items included several electrical cables, F connectors, and a police identity card bearing Ishaku’s name and photo (ID number 309976).
The suspects have been handed over to the D Division Police Station in Makurdi.
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Confirming the development, Dr. Adakole Elijah, Head of Corporate Services at Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), Makurdi, expressed concern over rising cases of vandalism.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said she was not yet aware of the arrest but promised to verify and provide updates.
