ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Vigilante Service (BSVS) says the outfit has nabbed three suspected criminals for car burglary and copper wires theft.
Chairman, BSVS, Mr Doubiye Alagba, said on Saturday that the outfit arrested one Matthew Izibefiezem, aged 18, who specialised in stealing copper wires.
He said the suspect after stealing the items subsequently sold them to scrap dealers in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Alagba said the suspect usually sold the stolen copper wires to a scrap dealer, one Mr. Bubarak Abdulahi, a northerner residing in the state.
He said they were unfortunate when the duo had a misunderstanding over price and payment.
He said the development raised suspicion among residents who informed the outfit that led to their arrest.
Alagba said as a result of series of complaints from residents about the activities of scrap scavengers and number of arrested criminals associated with them, the outfit had seen the need to check and verify those who engage in scrap scavenging and buying in the state.
He added that some dealers in the scraps business encouraged the high level of stealing and criminal activities that are being recently witnessed in the state.
He said: “If you want to sell scrap metals or own a scrap dump, be ready to prove you don’t have criminal record.
“The new rule is an attempt to curb the recent increase in stealing associated with dealers in scraps.”
Alagba also said the outfit arrested one Lotana Ifeogbunam from Anambra State, who was caught along the Imiringi Road while trying to burgle a Lexus Jeep in a bid to steal the battery of the vehicle.
“The suspect, according to residents of the area specialises in stealing vehicle batteries. After he has stolen them, he sells them to scrap dealers in the state,” he stated.
Alagba said the three suspects had been handed over to the Anti-kidnapping Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa State Command.