A man has been arrested by the Edo State Task Force for the Protection of Government Property for allegedly stealing iron materials from the defunct Bendel Brewery in Benin City.
Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday, saying the suspect was caught during a routine check by the task force.
“The suspect was caught in the act of removing iron materials from the premises of the now non-operational brewery, a property under the ownership of the Edo State Government,” the statement read.
He said the suspect was handed over to the police at the Area Command, Oregbeni Division, and is currently in custody while investigations continue.
The government said the arrest shows its strong stance against theft and vandalism of public property. The task force has submitted a report of the incident to the appropriate office for proper documentation.
Itua explained that the state is working hard to secure all government-owned properties that have been left idle or exposed for years.
He said, “This development comes amidst ongoing state-wide efforts to restore public confidence in government by strengthening security around state-owned facilities.”
The government praised the alertness of the task force and promised to keep taking bold steps to stop crime around public assets.
Itua also called on residents to report any suspicious activities around government properties, adding that protecting public investments is a shared responsibility.
