Godwin AJOM, Calabar
Three persons have been arrested for allegedly stealing a car engine worth two million naira inside the University of Calabar UNICAL. It is purported that one of those arrested is the son of a professor.
The three suspects whose names were given simply as Mr. Jerry, David and Paul were arrested by UNICAL internal security led by the Chief Security Officer of the University, Captain Augustine Bisong (rtd). It is believed that the arrest was made following an investigation was said to have been carried out.
According to Captain Augustine, “the suspects stole and sold the engine, we have also identified the buyer and other accomplices who took the engine out from the University, “The buyer of the tokunbo”toyota hilux engine at Bogobri and the vehicle/driver’s used in moving the engine out from the University have been identified.
“So far, we have arrested three persons, we are also on to other suspects involved in the engine theft and other related damages to critical infrastructure of the University.
“The ones arrested have been terrorizing members of the University community , stealing car batteries , armoured cables and vandalizing street light to get their batteries.
“We have been on surveillance for two weeks after the Hilux engine was stolen, and we have been on their trail before they were arrested. They have also named their receiver , a businessman at popular Bogobiri community of Hausa/ Fulani in Calabar .
“We will hand them over to security agency for onward prosecution of the matter , but we want to seize this opportunity to warn all those who are in the University community who feel they can commit crime and go Scott free , our vigilant eyes are watching , we shall smoke them all out.
“We are serious about maintaining a zero crime University community , and we shall leave no stone unturned in achieving this , we want to assure inhabitants to go about their lawful business without fear , we have the school community covered ,” he assured.
One of the Suspects, Mr. David who hails from Benue and resident of the University staff Quarters said they sold the engine at Bogobiri for 30,000 naira.
According to David , who lives with his mother, who is a potter inside one of the University hostel, claimed he didn’t know that the engine was still in perfect working condition.
“We took the engine to Bogobiri , we sold it for 30,000 because we thought it was scrap metal , I am sorry because I will never get involved in such again , ” he said.
