Two suspected vandals have been arrested by troops in Otukpo, the headquarters of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, for allegedly attempting to steal metal components from the Benue Burnt Bricks Company.
According to reports, the suspects, identified as Wilson Egbanga (16) and Okoh Akoja (40), both residents of Otukpo, were apprehended on Saturday night while vandalising equipment and installations at the defunct factory situated along the federal highway in Otukpo.
Eyewitnesses said the duo had arrived at the site under the cover of darkness but were intercepted by soldiers stationed at a nearby checkpoint after local residents raised an alarm.
A resident, identified simply as Adaji, told our correspondent that community members who noticed strange movements around the factory promptly alerted security operatives, leading to the swift arrest of the suspects.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Hon. Maxwell Ogiri, disclosed that the suspects were immediately handed over to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Otukpo for further investigation.
Ogiri, represented by his media aide, Joshua Otene, said several items were recovered from the suspects, including cut sheets of heavy metal, a massive mallet, spanners, two large gas cylinders, and another smaller gas cylinder connected with hoses, suspected to be used for cutting iron.
When contacted, the Otukpo DSS Second-in-Command, Mr. Aba Bashi, confirmed the arrest, noting that the suspects were in custody and would soon be transferred to the DSS office in Makurdi for further interrogation.
“It’s true that the soldiers brought in two suspected vandals. They are currently with us and will be moved to Makurdi for continuation of the investigation,” Bashi said.
Vandalism of public infrastructure remains a persistent challenge across the country, undermining development and causing huge economic losses.
The Benue Burnt Bricks Factory, established during the administration of Governor Aper Aku of blessed memory, has long been inactive, with many of its facilities gradually falling into disrepair due to neglect and frequent acts of vandalism.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful as calls and text messages to her phone went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
