Fresh revelations have emerged about 27-year-old Chidiebere Ohama, the suspected vandal arrested on Friday, August 2025, for stealing an Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) ladder in Umuahia.
Investigations by Lazeera News have revealed that Ohama, who hails from Umuariaga Ohoma in Ikwuano Local Government Area, had been involved in another high-profile crime just last month. According to the owner of Sochima Hotel at New Road, Umuahia, Mr. Ikenna Sochima, the suspect and his gang scaled a ladder into the hotel premises in July and broke into a guest room.
The guest, who had travelled from abroad, reportedly lost two laptops, an iPhone, $150, and other valuables. Shockingly, the gang also allegedly used the victim’s SIM card to withdraw nearly half a million naira from his bank account.
“When my guest returned to his room and found his valuables missing, he raised an alarm,” Sochima told ABN TV. “I immediately checked our CCTV footage and saw the faces of the suspects. I alerted the Operation Crush security team, who moved into the forest area known as ‘Down Below’ and identified Chidiebere when his picture was shown to the hoodlums there.”
Sochima said the suspect was apprehended, confronted with the evidence, and confessed to the crime before being handed over to the police.
“It was shocking to see him on ABN TV yesterday claiming that the EEDC ladder theft was his first offence. He is a serial criminal,” Sochima stated.
The hotel owner further disclosed that he has been actively fighting crime around the New Road axis since opening his hotel and has pledged to continue working closely with security agencies to ensure the area remains crime-free.
On Friday, Ohama was caught by vigilantes at Mission Hill for stealing and selling an EEDC ladder to a scrap dealer at New Road, Umuahia. During his initial confession, he admitted to living in a forest hideout and working with a gang that vandalises government and private properties.
Security operatives say the latest revelations confirm that Ohama is a repeat offender with a record of targeting high-value items. The police are expected to consolidate the cases as investigations continue.
Authorities have renewed calls for residents to remain vigilant, install security cameras where possible, and promptly report suspicious activities to law enforcement.
