Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested nine suspects for various offences ranging from illegal electricity connections, vandalism of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) equipment, and tampering with prepaid meters belonging to Ibadan IBEDC.
The Osun NSCDC boss, Commandant Agboola Sunday who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on Friday said the nine suspects made up of eight males and one female were caught in the act in their various residences.
Agboola explained that the suspects were arrested at Owode along ilesa road in Osun State, on 28th March at about 8:000pm during a joint task force operation of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Osun State Command and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC)
He lamented that energy theft, vandalism and other vices are major setbacks mitigating the development of the country.
“The command has a strong synergy with IBEDC, our personnel went on a joint task force operation with the company, round Osogbo in search of those manipulating meters in the state,
It is not going to be business as usual as the command is ready to put a stop to this act” Osun NSCDC boss said.
‘’We shall leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators of energy theft to book, NSCDC will keep arresting those people, to serve as deterrent to those engaging in criminal infractions such as vandalism, bypass, illegal connection, load diversion and others” Commandant Agboola said .
He urged members of the public to be part of continuing efforts aimed at safeguarding critical national assets in their neighbourhood by reporting the activities of vandals and saboteurs to the nearest NSCDC in their environment.
The state commandant who revealed that the suspects made a confessional statement admitting the commission of the energy theft said they shall be prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as deterrent to others who are tampering with meters installed in their residences.
Commandant Agboola also warned non-staff of IBEDC to steer clear of power installations which under the guise of maintenance encroach on these facilities.
