The Umuahia Zone 9 police command in Abia State has verified the apprehension of three individuals suspected of vandalizing essential equipment at a palm oil plantation owned by the Abia state government in Okon Aku community, situated in the Ohafia council area.
According to information gathered by Vanguard, the palm oil plantation was established in 1961 by the Eastern Region Estate Investment (EREI) during Dr. Michael Okpara’s tenure as the premier of the now-defunct Eastern region.
Confirming the arrest, DSP Bruno Iheanetu, the Police Public Relations Officer for Zone 9 in Umuahia, informed Vanguard that soldiers apprehended the suspects, who were subsequently handed over to the police.
He further revealed that the state government had filed a complaint with the police regarding the ongoing vandalism of crucial equipment at the palm oil estate, despite warnings issued to the vandals to steer clear of the plantation.
However, luck evaded the three suspects after they vandalized an oil processing equipment installed on the plantation.
The suspects’ arrest reportedly followed a tip-off from local hunters to the soldiers concerning the vandals’ activities.
Military sources also told Vanguard that the soldiers on patrol swooped on the vandals as they had loaded the vandalized equipment into a waiting lorry.
He said; “It is true that some vandals were arrested at the government palm oil estate by the military and handed over to the Police. They are still under interrogation. I can’t give more details now because some of them have not been apprehended. It was a complaint by the state government through the House of Assembly. Investigation is ongoing,” the PPRO said.