The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ebonyi State Command has arrested and paraded a 27-year-old man, Edeh Emmanuel for stealing bags of garri.
Emmanuel was paraded for allegedly breaking into Nkwo Nkalagu garri traders’ storehouse located in the market in Nkalagu community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and stole five bags of garri.
Parading the suspect, the State Commandant of NSCDC, Nnadi Francis warned miscreants to leave the state or meet their waterloo.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the command to increase surveillance and rid the state of all criminal elements.
Addressing journalists, Francis said, “Today, I invited you to come and see for yourself what we have been doing. This parade is to educate other intending offenders to stay off the state because there is no hiding place for them.”
Speaking with the suspect during the parade, he admitted stealing the five bags of garri from traders’ collective storehouse where his mother, who is also a garri seller, packs her unsold goods.
The suspect, a secondary school dropout, pleaded for mercy and attributed the act to hunger and hardship, pledging to turn a new leaf if freed.
“I have come to realise that my action is wrong, I am sorry. If I leave here, it will never repeat itself again. I will go and hire a wheelbarrow to assist people to carry their luggage and get paid. I am a native of Idodo in Enugu State but lives in Nkalagu community Ishielu Local Government of Ebonyi State with my parents. I was born here. I dropped from school because of poverty. Please have mercy on me,” he pleaded with the security agencies.