The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for a prompt and impartial investigation into the arrest of four persons by the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, over alleged vandalism and theft of telecommunications equipment. RULAAC's Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, stated that the group had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for an independent investigation. The petition was prompted by allegations surrounding the petitions that triggered the probe, the provenance of the recovered equipment, alleged damage to CCTV cameras, and possible retaliation against a businessman who sought the organisation's intervention.
According to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the FCID Annex, Lagos, Simeon Akpanudom, the department received 1,816 complaints between June 25 and September 18, 2026. Out of these, 1,803 were referred for investigation, while nine were referred to various state Commissioners of Police and police formations for action, and four were declined as civil matters. Akpanudom stated that 24 cases had been concluded and processed in various courts, while other cases were at different stages of investigation, legal vetting, and advice.
The arrested suspects, Abuchi Odikemere, 29; Anyanwu Emmanuel, 28; Kayode Segun, 28; and Emmanuel Chineku, 17, were apprehended at a shop at No. 12 Pastor Alabi Close, Kosofe, Lagos. The police recovered two surveillance cameras, 52 solar batteries, one hammer, one chisel, three small solar panels, and two solar meters from the suspects. Akpanudom said efforts were ongoing to dismantle and apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate, while the suspects in custody would be charged in court on relevant charges.
However, RULAAC raised questions about the timing and origin of petitions allegedly submitted in connection with the case. The group alleged that the police operation may initially have arisen from information supplied by an informant and that additional petitions involving other telecommunications interests emerged after questions were raised about the complainants and evidential basis of the operation. RULAAC stressed that it was not presenting allegations that some petitions were retrospectively procured or backdated as facts.
RULAAC also called for investigators to establish whether the recovered batteries and other items could be traced through serial numbers, inventories, tracking records, or other objective evidence to specific telecommunications facilities that were vandalised. The group urged investigators to establish when and where the alleged attacks occurred and what evidence directly linked each suspect to the incidents. RULAAC acknowledged that one of the businessmen linked to the arrest, Chika Onwa Odo, denied involvement in vandalism or knowingly dealing in stolen telecommunications equipment.
The group further alleged that some officers involved in the investigation became angry after Odo approached RULAAC and the organisation began asking questions about the case. RULAAC said there were allegations that subsequent actions were partly motivated by a desire to "deal with" Odo for seeking outside scrutiny. The organisation called for the retrieval of an earlier case allegedly involving Odo and an individual he identified as being behind the current allegations.
RULAAC said no citizen should face retaliation for approaching a lawyer, human rights organisation, or senior police authority over perceived mis. The organisation's petition aims to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged vandalism and theft of telecommunications equipment. The suspects will be charged in court on relevant charges once the investigation is complete.
Key points
- RULAAC demands independent police probe into alleged vandalism and theft of telecommunications equipment valued at N150m.
- The group raises questions about the timing and origin of petitions allegedly submitted in connection with the case.
- RULAAC calls for investigators to establish whether recovered items can be traced to specific telecommunications facilities that were vandalised.
