Police arrest two street lights vandals in Rivers

Men of the Rivers State Police Command have smashed a syndicate that specialises in vandalising solar street lights and stealing them for monetary gains near the Trans-Amadi Industrial axis of Port Harcourt.

The police said two suspects who were caught in the act attempted to sell vandalised solar lights installed by the Niger Delta Development Commission before operatives swooped on them and consequently recovered the facilities.

The State Police Command Spokesman, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The statement reads, “The Trans-Amadi Division of the Rivers State Police Command, on the 26th of January 2025 at about 0300hrs, acting on a credible piece of intelligence made a significant breakthrough in combating vandalism with the arrest of two suspects.

“The suspects were caught vandalizing and attempting to steal NDDC Street Solar Lights along Danjuma Drive, off Trans-Amadi road in Port-Harcourt.

“The suspects, Shaibu Yusuf, aged 30, an indigene of Bolari Town in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State and Ibrahim Abubakar, aged 28, an indigene of Katsina LGA of Katsina State, but all resident at Okuru scrap dump, Abuloma Community, Port- Harcourt. Items recovered from the suspects include; Solar Light, Poles, Solar Light Panels, Solar Light Panel Bolts, Solar Light Panel Nuts and a knife.”

Iringe-Koko further said upon interrogation, the arrested suspects confessed to being part of a syndicate responsible for vandalising and stealing Street Solar Lights and manhole covers in the area.

“The suspects have been charged to court, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate to face justice accordingly.

“This arrest is part of a larger effort to tackle vandalism and theft of Street Solar Lights and manhole covers in the state,” the state police image maker added.