Vandalism: RULAAC seeks clarification over alleged inconsistencies in FCID Alagbon’s claim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, seeking an independent investigation into alleged inconsistencies surrounding the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos investigation into alleged vandalism, robbery and theft of telecommunications infrastructure.
RULAAC said it was not seeking to obstruct the investigation or shield anyone from prosecution where credible evidence of wrongdoing exists, but raised concerns about the chronology of the investigation, the identification of allegedly stolen property, the arrest and detention of suspects and the conduct of police officers involved.
The concerns followed a public briefing by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of FCID Annex, Lagos, AIG Simeon Akpanudom, on the activities of the command between June 25 and September 18, 2026.
According to the AIG, FCID Annex received a petition from Plutolord Solicitors, on behalf of ATC Telecommunications Nationwide, on August 11, alleging that armed persons had attacked and vandalised telecommunications facilities in parts of the Southeast and Lagos between March and May 2026, stealing equipment valued at about N150 million.
The police said SWAT operatives subsequently arrested four persons at a shop at No. 12 Pastor Alabi Close, Kosofe, Lagos. They were identified as Abuchi Odikemere, 29; Anyanwu Emmanuel, 28; Kayode Segun, 28; and Emmanuel Chineku, 17.
Items reportedly recovered included 52 solar batteries, two surveillance cameras, three small solar panels, two solar meters, a hammer and a chisel. Police said efforts were ongoing to arrest other alleged members of the syndicate.
RULAAC, however, said the police’s stated date of August 11 for receipt of the ATC petition provides an opportunity to independently establish the chronology of events.
The organisation said it had received information suggesting that police actions concerning the suspects or their premises may have preceded the formal petition. It therefore asked that the original petition, FCID’s petition register, investigation diary, assignment records and other relevant documents be examined to determine when the complaint was received, when the investigation began and who initially supplied information about the suspects.
RULAAC also called for the specific telecommunications facilities allegedly vandalised between March and May to be identified, alongside records showing the equipment allegedly stolen, its serial numbers, ownership, reported thefts and the chain linking the recovered items to the alleged crime scenes.
The organisation said the presence of used telecommunications batteries at the premises should not, without further evidence, be treated as proof that the items were stolen or that the suspects participated in their theft.
It also raised questions about an earlier allegation involving one of the persons connected to the business, saying previous police and court records should be examined to determine whether there was any link between that matter and the current investigation.
RULAAC further alleged that police officers may have damaged CCTV cameras during the operation and called for the circumstances surrounding the cameras listed among the exhibits to be established. It also sought clarification over the arrest of the 17-year-old suspect and the alleged retention of his telephone after his release.
The organisation said allegations of financial demands, retaliation and possible coordination between individuals connected to the investigation should also be independently examined. It stressed that it had not independently established those allegations.
RULAAC said it had previously appealed to the FCID leadership for a review of the matter and for the account of Chika Onwa Odo, who is connected to the business where the arrests occurred, to be considered.
The group expressed concern that the suspects were subsequently publicly paraded and described as members of a “syndicate”, arguing that such a presentation should not prevent further scrutiny of the evidence or prejudge persons who have not been convicted.
It therefore urged the Inspector-General of Police to order a prompt, impartial and evidence-based investigation into both the alleged telecommunications offences and the conduct of the investigation itself.
RULAAC said the review should establish the chronology and provenance of all petitions connected to the case, preserve relevant documentary and electronic evidence, trace the ownership of the recovered equipment and determine whether there was any misconduct, retaliation or improper interference in the investigation.
