Security operatives arrest alleged serial thief at NAN Office in Awka

A combined team of Private Security Operatives and Police have arrested and alleged serial criminal who has been vandalizing the Awka office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The suspect, Sampson Ezugwu was arrested while vandalizing NAN office located close to Government House Awka on Friday October 6.

One of the private security personnel who do not want his name in print told NAN on Sunday in Awka that Ezugwu was caught seen inside office stealing items when suddenly an item he was carrying fell on the floor and made loud noise.
The source said, it was the noise that attract one of the security who then altered othe privater security operatives around the neighborhood.
“When he hear the noise, he peeped and saw someone who ran towards the back of the office.
“Few minutes later, we entered the office and saw computer, wires, electrical accessories and other materials littered at the place and some already arranged and tired.
” We equally saw his footprints and followed it and saw from where he scaled the fence and jumped across to government house.
“This now made us to alert the Security Officer (SO) at the Government House Awka who then mobilized police with him and we all conducted painstaking search before we caught Ezugwu hiding at a corner you would hardly believe that a human being would enter”, he said.
The source added that it was thereafter that Ezugwu now went and showed them where he had kept some items he hid in the bush which he removed from NAN office.
“This was what prompted the SO to telephone the head of NAN office on the situation and later took the suspect to B Division of Nigeria Police Force Awka.
Mr Friday Agbo, Security Officer, (SO) Government House Awka corroborated the account by the private security personnel, saying that his Chief Security Officer had advised them to ensure adequate security in and around government house.
Agbo said he handed the suspect to B Division of Nigeria Police Force Awka for further investigations into the matter.
Mr Francis Onyeukwu, the State Correspondent, NAN Awka who expressed shock at the number of attacks by hoodlums at the office said the agency had lost virtually all it’s property to criminals.
“Apart from computers and other electrical accessories, the suspect vandalized the galaxy backbone internet facility which is worth more than N10 million, as well as materials used for ceiling.
“About a month ago, they came and dismantled and stole our soundproof generator worth more than N3.5 million in addition to three units of window split air conditioners refrigerator among others”, he said.
Onyeukwu who lamented incessant cases of attacks at the Awka office , said between Aug. 2018 and Oct. 2023, the office recorded more than twelve cases of vandalism.
“Yo cannot believe that criminals have disconnected and stole all the wires/fittings used in wiring the entire place and well stolen the television, radio and some furnitures”, he said.
DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, Anambra State Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) expressed shock at the development.
Ikenga said he was happy that police personnel were able to effect the arrested of the criminal and assured that adequate investigation would be conducted in the matter.