ABUDU – Four persons, including one who escaped from prison in Benin city during the ENDSARS protests last year has been arrested after they broke into the building housing Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NCSDC) and Abudu branch of Edo State Board of Internal revenue service within Orhionmwon local government secretariat.
The burglars identified as Olayemi Okunmaye ‘M’ 25 years, Emmanuel Wisdom ‘M’ 21 years, Agu Iwerebor ‘M’ 20 years, who were led by the prison escapee Kingsley Godspower ‘M’ 28 years only succeeded in breaking into the revenue office during their operations in the building on the 16th of October, before they went further to broke into the civic centre and a poultry farm inside Abudu town.
They were later trailed by eagle-eyes vigilantes who arrested and handed them over to Police at the Abudu Police Divisional headquarters, alongside their loot which include two motorcycles, electrical wires, ceiling fans, generating sets, mechanical tools and two dead chickens.
A visit to the revenue office revealed that the burglars had a field day as they vandalised the chairs and tables which they use to access the ceiling inside were they cut out the cables.
“they came at night that day; and overpowered the security guard, before they broke into the offices and cut off all the cable wire.
“From there they came to (Abudu) town to also broke into the civic centre built by Urhoghide, steal all the cables in the ceiling, and fans, leaving only one. They also break into a poultry farm and steal two chickens”, a source told The Nigerian Observer
When our correspondent visited Abudu police divisional headquarters on Monday, a senior police officer confirm their arrest, but maintained the matter is still under investigation.
The matter however took a twist as the community faulted the police for incidenting a case of stealing, instead of breaking and entering, and their refusal to visit the crime scenes which the police blame on lack of logistics.
The suspects were later same day (Monday) charged to Magistrate court at Abudu after the charges were amended to five count charge.
They pleaded guilty to the charges, and were subsequently convicted, and sentenced to prison according to their level of involvement.
