RRS RE-ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDAL FOR SAME OFFENCE IN LAGOS

Barely 18 days after gaining freedom from the detention of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti in Lagos, Godwin Nwankwo, 23, was yesterday re-arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly vandalizing bridge railings and crash barriers on Ijora Bridge, same offence he committed about three months ago.

The criminal suspect was arrested when he was bringing out some cut-to-size railings and crash barriers from manholes which were meant to reinforce Ijora Bridge from vibrating as well as protect vehicles from falling from the bridge.

The suspect, who spent 44 days in the police’s detention for stealing railings in ijora Bridge, stated that he stole the railings because he was desperately hungry and there was no alternative means for him to get money.

“When I was arrested for the first time, I pleaded for leniency and mercies. Now, I had been caught again, I don’t know what to say or plead for mercies again. All I can say is that it was the devil that pushed me into this act”.

The suspect who hails from Enugu State in Aninri LGA, said upon gaining freedom from the police’s custody, things were very hard for him again, and to make ends meet was very difficult, thus making him to go back to the crime.

He added: “I had to go back to the act of vandalizing the bridge when I had nothing on me to cater for my well-beings. Although, I am regretting my action but it is too late for me now”.

He explained that he was looking for money to relocate to Enugu as life is difficult for him in Lagos. “My plan was to raise some money to enable me relocate to Enugu, where I repair handsets before coming to Lagos. I want to leave Lagos because my life has been meaningless here”, he stated.

While confessing to the crime, he revealed that he sold the stolen railings to one Alhaji Talimu Sanni and another man, now at large, in Ijora area of the state.

His revelation to the interrogators resulted in the arrest of one of the main receivers of the stolen railings, Talimu Sanni, the following day.

The 54 year-old receiver owned up to the Police, that he collected the items from the suspect about six weeks ago. "Although, I bought bridge railings from the suspect, but I don't know they were stolen items", he added.

The State Police’ Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the arrest, added that anyone involved in the act would be brought to book.

“We are intensifying our efforts to arrest anybody vandalizing Government’s infrastructure across the state. This stride has begun to yield positive results as some of them have been arrested and they are facing prosecution at the moment”, she said.