Vandalization: Court jail woman, 7 others for 14yrs in Ebonyi 

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

Ebonyi state government on Thursday said that Ebonyi High Court has sentenced seven persons that specialized in vandalizing government properties and a woman who purchased those vandalized properties for 14 years.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security, Prince Uka Ude revealed this during a chat with journalists in Abakaliki noting that they specialised in vandalizing public electricity infrastructure and trading stolen materials. 

He noted that the judgment will sends a clear message to others who thinks that government assets are for sale describing light as important as water, and anyone who tampers with it will face the full weight of the law.

The Commissioner further reiterated his Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that Ebonyi State records crime free State under his watch.

The Security Boss stated that why the State is enjoying peace and the citizens could sleep with their two eyes closed without any harassment or intimidation was because of his synergy with all other security agencies in combating crime in the state.

He however lauded governor Francis Nwifuru for his ingenuity in handling all situations concerning peace initiatives in the State, appreciating him for providing all the finance and logistics needed for security of the state.

He therefore, commended the Neighborhood Security Watch for their determination and dedication in carrying out the security work, saying that they were the tools behind the achievements so far recorded, describing their efforts as great.

He encouraged them to continue and never slack for a better tomorrow, noting that to whom much is given, much is expected of him.

In his words, “I don’t know whether you have an idea that when you come out here in the night like those of us who will come out to move around these places, you will notice that everywhere will be calm and very peaceful”.

“The only people you will see one the road are these young boys called the Neighborhood Watch and they are actively doing their job, they are not asking whether what they are doing is praised by anybody or not but they are doing it anxiously with full determination and I tell them today that they are great”.

“On the 30th August, 2024 at odd hours of the night, the gallant men of the Neighborhood Security Watch while on their night patrol arrested one Mr. Joseph Chigozie and 11 others at the scene of the crime at the Abakaliki Shopping Mall, vandalizing the cable wire that connects water and electricity to the shopping mall and its environs”.

“After the arrest, Ministry of Internal Security handed them over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution”.

“They were arraigned in Court and trial commenced until judgement was delivered on Tuesday, 10th February, 2026 by Justice Franklin Edem of the State High Court 4 in favour of the Ministry of Internal Security, Ebonyi State”.

“The defendants, Joseph Chigozie and 11 others were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment”.

“Items recovered include sumo pumping machine, armored cable wire, solar panel and high tension coated cable”.