I vandalize bridge railings because I need money to eat – Suspect

By OKOSUN DENNIS

A-23-year old Godwin Nwankwo, who specializes in vandalizing bridge railings and crash barriers, has been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command of Rapid Response Squad 18 days after regaining freedom from the detention of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti in Lagos.

The suspect was arrested on Ijora Bridge, an offence he committed about three months ago that earned him being detained at the police station.

Nwankwo was said to be arrested when he was bringing out some cut-to-size railings and crash barriers from manholes which were meant to reinforce Ijora Bridge from vibrating as well as protect vehicles from falling from the bridge.

It was learnt that the suspect had spent 44 days in the police’s detention for stealing railings in Ijora Bridge, stated that he stole the railings because he was desperately hungry and there was no alternative means for him to get money.

He confessed, “When I was arrested for the first time, I pleaded for leniency and mercies. Now, I had been caught again, I don’t know what to say or plead for mercies again. All I can say is that it was the devil that pushed me into this act”.

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The suspect who hails from Enugu State in Aninri Local Government Area, said after been released from the police’s custody, things were very hard for him again, but because he needed money to feed himself, the only option was to go back to the crime.

“I had to go back to the act of vandalizing the bridge when I had nothing on me to cater for my well-beings. Although, I am regretting my action but it is too late for me now”, he added.

Nwankwo explained that he was looking for money to relocate to Enugu as life was difficult for him in Lagos. “My plan was to raise some money to enable me relocate to Enugu, where I repair handsets before coming to Lagos. I want to leave Lagos because my life has been meaningless here”, he stated.

On how he sold the irons, he revealed that he sold the stolen railings to one Alhaji Talimu Sanni and another man, now at large, in Ijora area of the state.

As a result, the police have arrested one of the main receivers of the stolen railings, Talimu Sanni.

The 54 year-old receiver who has owned up said that he collected the items from the suspect about six weeks ago. “Although, I bought bridge railings from the suspect, but I don’t know they were stolen items”, he added.

The State Police’ Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the arrest, added that anyone involved in the act would be brought to book.

“We are intensifying our efforts to arrest anybody vandalizing Government’s infrastructure across the state. This stride has begun to yield positive results as some of them have been arrested and they are facing prosecution at the moment”, she said.