The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a suspected electricity cable vandal in Ebonyi.

The state commandant, Terrumum Gbue, said the suspect was arrested at Amachi, Izzi Local Government Area of the state, adding that efforts were in place to arrest his fleeing collaborators.

Mr Gbue said the command had received a distress call that some vandals were destroying electricity cables in the area and dispatched its team to the scene.

“The vandals, on sighting our team, fled, but the vigilante in the area assisted us in arresting this suspect.”

The commandant said that though he could not state the exact quantity of the vandalised cable, it would be enough to cover five electric poles.

“We are determined to check the activities of vandals and optimally protect critical infrastructure in the state,” he said.

He lamented the effects of vandalism on the nation’s economy and called for concerted efforts to check it.

“You can imagine what it would cost the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to install these cables again.

“We are currently training 66 new personnel who would still receive further training by the corps to strengthen our operational capacity in the state,” he said.

The suspect, Sunday Mbam denied vandalising any cable, insisting that he was a driver.

“I was contracted by some people to convey some materials and I did not know they were vandalised cables,” he said.

(NAN)