BY: Nick Nwaneri, Calabar
An alleged theft of a belgium Hilux Car engine has landed a professor’s son identified as “Jerry, and two others, David and Paul into police detention.
The duo were arrested for allegedly stealing a “Belgium” Hilux engine worth #2 million Naira inside the University of Calabar Staff quarters recently.
Patriotnews gathered that they were arrested by UNICAL internal security led by the Chief Security Officer of the University, Captain Augustine Bisong ( rtd) after through investigation.
Cpt Bisong disclosed that the engine was bought to replace a bad one in the vehicle of a principal officer of the University before it was stolen from the mechanic workshop inside the staff quarters.
He explained that when they got a call that the engine worth #2million Naira was missing they had to mount surveillance to recover it.
According to him, 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”.
When interviewed the trio claimed that they thought it was scrap metal that was no longer useful.
A prime suspect, David who hails from Benue and resident of the University staff quarters said they sold the engine at Bogobiri for #30,000 Naira.
“David, who lives with his mum who is a potter inside one of the University hostel said that he did not know that the engine was still in perfect working condition.”
“We took the engine to Bogobiri and 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 pleaded”.
They have been handed over to security agents for prosecution.
