Four firefighters accused of stealing fire trucks in Akwa Ibom

Four firefighters accused of stealing fire trucks in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested four firefighters accused of stealing four fire trucks belonging to the Akwa Ibom Fire Service.

The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, revealed this during his maiden press briefing at the police headquarters in Uyo on Monday, January 13. He stated that the fire trucks were stolen in 2021 and transported to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to Mr. Azare, the stolen trucks were leased to multinational companies in Port Harcourt at a daily rate of ₦140,000 per truck for an initial period of three years.

“The link company share was N80,000 while the fire service officials share stood at N60,000 per truck per day. The deal was done in 2021 and was expected to terminate by 2024.

“However, about two months before the expiration of the deal, the command acted and recovered the vehicles.

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“The four suspects arrested in the case will be charged to court soon while the trucks will be released to the government to continue to serve the good people of the state while we continue to look for others at large,” Mr Azare told reporters.

He said the police acted based on a tip-off.

The four recovered trucks were parked at the police headquarters as of Monday during the press briefing.

Mr Azare appealed for understanding and support from journalists in Akwa Ibom.

“As far as I am concerned, media practitioners are my first constituency,” he told reporters.

“It may interest you to know that you are the first group of stakeholders I am meeting, barely a few days after assuming office as the Commissioner of Police in this great state, Akwa Ibom. This underscores the importance I attach to my colleagues in the pen-pushing profession.

“I consider you all partners in progress and look forward to a symbiotic relationship that will enable us to work together to maintain peace and security in our dear state. I intend to make this interaction a regular occurrence so we can freely discuss and exchange ideas.”

 

Four firefighters accused of stealing fire trucks in Akwa Ibom