Metro

Car, battery thieves invade N’Assembly

Published

8 years ago

October 17, 2016

The premises of Nigeria’s highest law making body in the country, the National Assembly, is gradually assuming a notorious position as a den of car and battery theft in Abuja.

Civil servants, legislative aides and journalists attached to the National Assembly, appear to be worst-hit in the new wave of crime. The junior staff cadre are expressing concerns over rising cases of car theft and other essential belongings within the expansive premises.

Checks by Ripples Nigeria, showed that more than four vehicles have been stolen from the car park located inside the National Assembly since January this year.

As for theft of car batteries, it has become almost a daily occurrence, despite the heavy security presence in and around the National Assembly complex.

According to details made available to our correspondent by a security operative attached to the National Assembly, a 2003 Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), a 1999 Honda Accord, a 2001 Toyota Camry and a 2003 Honda Civic have all been reported stolen since January this year.

The battery of a Honda Accord car belonging to a journalist with a national newspaper house, was stolen last week.

According to the victim’s account, the hoodlums had made fruitless attempts to steal the car from the spot where it was parked.

He said: “I parked my vehicle in the space allotted to journalists and legislative aides, but was shocked upon my return in the evening. From a distance, I saw the bonnet of my vehicle open.

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“I knew something was wrong since I did not leave it open in the morning when I drove in. When I opened the bonnet, I realized that my car battery was gone. I also discovered that attempts were made by those responsible to open my car.

“I had to call my mechanic who brought another battery from his workshop in Nyanya before I could leave the place. I have heard similar stories, but I did not believe until that day.”

Recall that last Tuesday, Policemen attached to the National Assembly, arrested six alleged oil thieves who specialize in siphoning diesel from the heavy duty generating sets at the annex area of the Assembly complex.

The thieves were alleged to have stolen eleven jerry cans of twenty five litres each and were caught at a point of loading inside a Gulf Volkswagen car brought for the purpose by an eagle eyed security on night duty who alerted others and promptly arrested them. One of the oil thieves escaped arrest and was said to be on the run.

Two of the thieves are members of staff of the National Assembly, specifically Sergeant-At-Arms Department. The remaining five were recruited from Tipper Garage, a nearby heavy truck park.

It was also discovered that one of the two members of staff of the National Assembly who led the gang, invited five others from the tipper garage to accompany them on the act and they entered the complex around 4.20 am in the morning of Tuesday.

By Ehisuan Odia….

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