By Tony Adibe
Two suspected vandals, Chekwube Onu, 28 and Okwudiri Okeke, 18, were yesterday paraded by the Enugu state command of The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has paraded before newsmen two suspected vandals for allegedly vandalising rail tracks in Enugu.
The two suspects were identified as Chekwube Onu, 28 and Okwudiri Okeke, 18. The incident was said to have occurred on the 10th of this month in Aruokwe village, Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
NewsBits gathered that items recovered from the vandals included, 77 rail line bolts, and nuts, 1 iron pipe, digger, 1 machete, 1 rig spanners. Others are, 2-empty hydraulic acid containers, 1 flat spanner and 2 full containers of hydraulic.
Parading the suspects in Enugu, the state capital, NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Aloysius Udemmadu Obiorah, said that community-based intelligence was critical for crime reduction in the society.
Obiorah said: “We call on the people of the state to intensify their efforts in assisting security agencies with vital information on the activities of criminals and other social misfits that are making life difficult for the people in the state. They are now begging for leniency, nevertheless, investigations have been concluded, and the suspects have been arraigned.”
Commandant Obiorah also warned that the Command would not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with criminal elements in the state who vandalise critical public national assets and infrastructure.
In an interview, the District Public Relations Officer, Eastern District, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Dr. Onyedikachi Onovo, called for a legislation against vandalism and sale of railway materials in open places.
Dr. Onovo, appealed to leaders to caution their subjects against vandalism of public property, adding that the equipment were located in communities and towns.
