The Cross River representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Rt Hon Orok Duke PhD, has cautioned those tampering with NDDC infrastructure in the state, insisting that anyone caught will face prosecution.
He issued the warning on Sunday after the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Cross River recovered a cache of stolen solar streetlight components over the weekend. The items, which included eleven solar poles and four panels, were traced to a location in Calabar Municipality where they had been dismantled and stored.
Duke described the act as outright sabotage and said the Commission will not spare anyone found culpable. He noted that the theft undermines the joint efforts of the state government and the NDDC to improve security and make communities safer at night through solar street lighting.
He stressed that no individual, regardless of status, would be shielded from prosecution. His comments follow reports that a traditional ruler, His Highness Michael Inyang, Village Head of Ikot Abasi Obori, has been linked to the incident. The NSCDC has invited him to report at its headquarters on Monday, December 8, 2025, for questioning.
The NDDCโs solar installations have become an important part of its development push across the region, offering reliable lighting to communities that have long struggled with inadequate infrastructure. Duke said the Commission remains committed to protecting these assets to ensure they continue to serve the people.
