Three suspects have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command over an attack on a fuel station and damaging a pump machine worth about N3.6m.

The attack was said to have occurred on Thursday in Ewato Community, Esan South East Local Government Area of the state.

One of the suspects known as Biggy and others have been arrested and detained at the Ewohimi Police Division.

The state police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent said the suspect carried out the attack on the gas station and damaged pump machines worth N3.6m, adding that the suspects were currently in police custody.

He said, “The suspect damaged pump machines at the filling station estimated to the tune of N3.6m because a sales girl declined his advances.”

He, however, assured that the matter would be treated with the attention it deserved and ensure that he is prosecuted according to the law.

The owner of the fuel station, the Iyase of Ewato, Chief Kenneth Ezojie, said he was called on Tuesday that Biggy and two others vandalised the place over the refusal by his sales girl to sleep with Biggy for N5,000.

He said, “Three months ago, hoodlums destroyed my station. While we had yet to recover from that, on Tuesday, around 8:30 pm, Biggy came and asked my sales girl to sleep with him for N5,000.and she refused,” he said.

“Due to the fact that she rejected him, Biggy beat her up. On Thursday morning, my manager rushed to tell me Biggy returned and damaged the fuel meters,” he added.

Ezojie appealed to security agencies to protect his business and ensure the suspects are prosecuted.

According to a member of the community, who pleaded anonymity, elders and members of community were happy that the criminal elements terrorising the community had been arrested and handed over to the police.

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency has apprehended officials of the Lekki Estates Residents Association for allegedly vandalising government-approved outdoor advertisements in the Lekki Phase One area of Lagos State.

TheNigerian Metro learnt that on Friday night, officials defaced streetlamp pole advertisements with red paint and removed A-frame advertisements along the Admiralty Way.

In a video seen by our correspondent on Wednesday, the officials were seen carrying out the operation with a branded patrol van.

Speaking to our correspondent, an official of the LASAA Corporate Communications and Strategy Department who identified himself simply as Adetokunbo said the officials were caught after an eyewitness report.

“After an eyewitness reported, we moved there and found some of them damaging the structures and impounding them. The issue is that they did not have any right to do that. That is why we are taking the matter up,” he added.

Meanwhile, the agency, in a statement, described the development as a violation by the association, noting that it had taken decisive action on the issue.

The agency, in the statement seen on Tuesday, stated that the apprehended officials would be made to face the law.

“The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency has taken decisive action on the recent issue concerning the violation by members of the Lekki Peninsula Residents Association regarding the audacious removal and wilful destruction of legally placed streetlamp pole advertisements on the stretch of Admiralty Way in the area.

“The agency in a swift move has apprehended individuals who perpetrated the act. Consequently, the law will take its course.

“We wish to assure members of the public of LASAA’s ongoing dedication to protecting the rights of businesses and ensuring that all advertising activities comply with established regulations. We recognise the vital role that outdoor advertising plays in promoting local businesses and enhancing community engagement,” the statement read.

The agency also reaffirmed its vigilance in preventing unauthorized activities that undermine advertising standards in the state, while it also warned that further legal action would be taken against any individuals or groups who attempt to disrupt legitimate advertising operations.

When contacted, the chairperson of the Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association, Shareefah Andu, declined comment on the development.

“I don’t have any reaction to it,” she said.

However, the Chairman, Lekki Estates Resident Stakeholders Association, Sulyman Bello, said efforts were ongoing to resolve the matter.

He said, “It should not have happened in the first place but it must have happened on account of some misunderstanding. We are working on resolving it.”

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested 17 suspects in connection with the vandalism of telecommunications masts and power installations in Yobe State.

The arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, led by Commandant AS Dandaura, following a series of intelligence operations aimed at curbing the rising cases of vandalism in the region.

Dandaura, in a statement signed by the corps spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, said the operation was carried out based on directives from the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, who had expressed a zero-tolerance policy for all acts of vandalism and sabotage of critical national infrastructure.

The crackdown targeted individuals involved in the destruction of telecommunication equipment, power transmission lines, rail, and pipeline infrastructure.

Dandaura explained that the operation focused on three warehouses in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, where the stolen items were stored.

Intelligence gathered earlier indicated that these locations were used as storage bases for vandalised telecommunications masts, power transmission equipment, and rail track gadgets.

According to the statement, the warehouses were located at the Pilgrim Nasarawa Bypass, Dujiya behind the new market, and Abari Bypass in Damaturu.

“Acting on the CG’s marching order, we raided three separate warehouses in Damaturu, Yobe State, as we earlier gathered intelligence that there were storage bases for vandalised telecom masts, power transmission and rail track gadgets within the crime scene.

“The clearance operation which took hours led to the uncovering of three warehouses located at the Pilgrim Nasarawa Byepass in Damaturu, another one at Dujiya behind the new market while the third warehouse was uncovered at the Abari bypass also in Damaturu.

“We have deployed a manhunt team to trail the kingpin named Aliyu Ajakuta who is also known as the Chairman, Scrap Dealers Association in the area,” Dandaura was quoted as saying.

The operation, which lasted for several hours, resulted in the recovery of various stolen items, including telecom masts, Base Transceiver Stations, armoured cables, rail track slippers, solar panels, batteries, and other materials.

The arrested suspects include individuals ranging in age from 15 to 29 years old. Among those apprehended were Umar Saiadu, Mohammed Salisu, Ali Adam, Ibrahim Mohammed, and several others.

The NSCDC pledged to continue its investigation and ensure that those involved in the destruction of national infrastructure were brought to justice.