ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
A 23-year-old man, Dinikpeke Orufa, who allegedly specialises in invading farmlands and illegally harvesting produce for sale has been nabbed.
The suspect, who is a native of Polaku community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State, was arrested by operatives of the Bayelsa State Vigilante Security (BSVS).
Orufa, who is said to be a serial stealer of agricultural products from people’s farms, was apprehended at the popular Tombia area after a failed attempt to sell stolen produce.
The Coordinator, BSVS, Doubiye Alagba, said the suspect had been handed over to the police at Akenfa Division of the state command for further investigation.
He said that his team had been trailing the suspect since last week after a female farm owner traced her stolen produce to the popular Tombia market in Yenagoa.
Alagba said: “The incident almost caused a crisis in the area but was resolved amicably between the buyer and the farm owner as the purchaser paid for the products again.
“We decided to beam our searchlight on the suspect. He usually dresses like a farmer, bring stolen farm produce to the market just to convince his buyers that the products are from his farm.
“After stealing some products last week, he brought some stolen potatoes on Monday for sale and we were alerted. After our investigation, we found out that he stole the farm produce from a farm along the Igbogene tollgate area of the state.
“On getting to the market on Monday, he was quickly identified and was arrested by our operatives stationed at the Tombia roundabout market.”