Alleged Theft Of Equipment In DSC: CP, DPO, Delta Politician, Others At Center Of Scandal

Investigation have revealed that industrial equipment running into billions of naira have been reportedly vandalised and stolen from the yard of Premium Mines & Steel Limited, PMSL (formerly Delta Steel Company, DSC) in Ovwain/Aladja, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

BIGPEN Online understands that the equipment were stolen on the 18th of June by some unknown vandals through the help of some community accomplices who reportedly ‘settled’ security guard under the guise of effecting repairs on the items.

The development which is currently shrouded in controversy was said to have led to the sudden transfer of the Burutu Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Ikoriovbe Marvellous Pule who was handling the case.

It was gathered that the Delta State Police Commissioner for reasons yet to be fathom redeployed the Area Commander whose jurisdiction the incident happened and was investigating the case to the North following controversy surrounding the CP’s order for the release of nine suspects who were earlier arrested in connection to the alleged theft.

It was gathered that the heavy duty equipment that were vandalized and stolen from the yard were mainly ‘industrial plants’ that were termed ‘isolate’.

Investigations revealed that about five load of truck of equipment were moved successfully from the DSC yard by the vandals unhindered under the guise that the items were being taken for repair.

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Finding indicates that the vandals came into the Community at night with the trucks and load the items all through the night with intentions to leave the yard in the morning under the pretext that they were going to repair the equipments which have been in use for well over thirty seven years.

However, luck ran out of them, (nine in number) when men from the Burutu Area Command, following a tip off intercepted the truck at the wee hours of the morning and arrested the suspects within the DSC yard near the residence of late Sen. Fred Brume in Orhowhorhun Community.

It was gathered that after the arrest, an undisclosed politician in Udu Council Area reached out to the Area Commander incharge of the area and pleaded for the release of suspect, claiming that the community, local government council as well as management of Premium Mines & Steel Limited, PMSL(formerly Delta Steel Company, DSC) were aware of the movement of the equipment.

Consequently, the politician, it was gathered reportedly offered the Area Command a bribe of N200, 000 to turn a blind eye to the case and release the suspect but the police officer refused the offer and insisted that they must be thoroughly investigated and possibly prosecuted in accordance with the law.

This, was said to have angered the politician who then reached out to the Commissioner of Police whom allegedly in turn called the current Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Ebrumede Police Station, SP Idoko Zeletus Okwudili, a former Divisional Police Officer of Ovwian Aladja Police to secure the release of the nine suspects to the politician.

Sources privy to the deal which transpired between the polititcian, the DPO and CP alleged that over N2million naira exchanged hands before the suspects were let out of the hooks.

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The said Area Commander, Pule who became a threat to the illegal transactions was thereafter redeployed to Kaduna rail line after the arrowheads in the alleged crime couldn’t buy him over when he insisted on thorough investigation and had made moves to charge the matter to court.

Meanwhile, when one of our correspondents contacted the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeyinka Adeleke who was apparently on the known of the whole transactions, he denied involvement in the racket, saying he was only aware of the incident few days ago and had ordered thorough investigation into the alleged crime.

Below are exclusive photographs obtained by BIGPEN Online of the equipment that were vandalised and moved out of the yard before they were intercepted by the police.