The Edo State Police Command has arrested a suspected electricity cable thief impersonating an employee of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company at the scene of the crime at Okhoro Road in Benin, the state capital.
The suspect, identified as Eden Ubong, was said to have vandalised 200KVA and 500KVA substations located at Play House and Iyayi in the locality respectively. The suspect was said to be parading a fake BEDC identity card when he was arrested.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the Head, Branding and Corporate Communications, BEDC, Evelyn Gbiwen.
Gbiwen said: “Eden Ubong was apprehended with 70mm 2 by 7 metres of cable from Play House, 200 Kva substation and 70mm 2 by 7 metres of cable from Iyayi 500 Kva substation.”
She added that another suspect identified as Eghosa Izevbokun was caught with stolen items from various substations.
The spokesperson explained that Izevbokun was caught with 10 metres of copper wire from a 500kva power transformer at the 3rd Cemetery Road and 20 meters of 500mm2 cable from a 500kva Substation at Old Rubber Board Road in Benin City.
Gbiwen who described the suspects arrest as a significant breakthrough in the fight against vandals, emphasized the company’s commitment to combating vandalism.
She said, “We are resolute in our fight against vandalism, as it doesn’t only affects our operations, but also tarnishes our reputation.
“We urge communities to be vigilant and guard their substations, as we work together to prevent these malicious acts.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, said the suspects were in custody pending the conclusion of the investigation.
He added, “The suspects are in police custody while the investigation continues.”
Also, the Ogun State Police Command said it had arrested two suspects, Alhaji Ibrahim, aged 25, and Salim Bashiru, aged 22, for allegedly stealing armoured cables, a property of Sinoma Company at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.
The two suspects were arrested around 2:30 am on Friday with the stolen armoured cables behind Eldorado and Sinoma company, Sagamu.
In a statement on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said the suspects were arrested by officers on patrol around the area.
“At about 2:30 am while officers were on patrol behind Eldorado and Sinoma company, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Sagamu, they arrested and brought to the station, two male suspects Alhaji Ibrahim, 25, and Salim Bashiru, 22 with armored cables, a property of Sinoma company”
“On receiving the report, a team of detectives investigated the scene and surrounding bush, and the suspects were rearrested after the principal suspect, Alhaji Ibrahim aged 25, confessed to the crime. The armoured cables have been registered as exhibits, and an investigation has been launched.”
TheNigerian Metro reported on August 23, 2024, that the Ogun State Police Command had apprehended one suspect identified as Lekan Ogunsanya, aged 31, on suspicion of vandalising and stealing air conditioners and cables from a government residential quarter in Isoso, Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.
