MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Area G Command in Ogba have uncovered how the security men employed by the management of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) allegedly disconnected the CCTV camera and carted away N3m worth of armoured cables, which threw the entire school premises into darkness in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 31st July, 2025, at the school located at Ogba, Lagos where the management employed the security guards to protect the school property.
Five of the security men, Abure Victor Olayinka, 42, Emmanuel Ikhanoba,40, Mary Ogbonna, 43, Segun Simeon, 43 and Nwoko Ugochukwu, 27, have been arrested in connection with the theft.
According to the Police, the suspects allegedly masterminded the sudden disconnection of the CCTV camera mounted in the school premises at night and same night, the armoured cables supplying electricity light to the school were stolen and the school was thrown into darkness.
When the management came to work in the morning and discovered what happened, the security guards on duty were summoned to know if the CCTV captured those who stole the items. But it was discovered that the CCTV camera was disconnected.
The security men were unable to explained how the CCTV camera suddenly stopped working that night the armoured cables were stolen giving suspicion that they knew what happened to the cables.
The matter was reported to the Police. The Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspects and detained them at the Command for interrogation over the missing items.
The Police found them culpable after interrogation and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, ABURE VICTOR OLAYINKA “M”, EMMANUEL IKHANOBA “M”, MARY OGBONNA “F”, SEGUN SIMEON “M”,NWOKO UGOCHUKWU on the 31st July, 2025 at about 0400hrs at Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, ABURE VICTOR OLAYINKA “M”, EMMANUEL IKHANOВА “М”, EMARY OGBONNA “F”, SEGUN SIMEON “M”, NWOKO UGOCHUKWU on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal armoured cables valued N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) only property of Nigerian Institute of Journalism and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.