NSCDC Arrest 7 Suspects Over Alleged Energy Theft

 

 

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara has arrested seven suspects over alleged theft of Energy as well as Electricity and Metre tampering.

The suspects, who were picked up from various locations in Ilorin, the state capital including Amayo, Ganmo, Olunlade, Kangu, Irewolede and Sango areas during a raid by the combined team of NSCDC and officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, Ayoola Michael,  who confirmed the arrest,  said that the raid was a continuation of the war started by the Security Agency on those involved in the vandalization of government property in the state.

The PRO described those involved in energy theft Meter Tampering and racketeering and said that they should be treated as economic saboteurs,

He said: “The NSCDC would not relent in waging war against them until we get rid of them and make the property of government safe.

“We have commenced a raid of houses in some areas in the state to ensure that people do not tamper with electricity meters.

“We are warning those that usually tamper with electricity meters that It will no longer be business as usual”, he said.

The PRO said that the seven suspects arrested are being investigated and interrogated by officials of the NSCDC and would soon be charged in Court upon completion of the investigation.

Also Speaking, Mr Oluwatoyin Akinyosoye, the Head of IBEDC in the Kwara region comprising Kwara state and part of Oyo, Niger and Kogi states said that cases of energy theft in the form of Meter Tampering, bye-passing and racketeering were on the increase in the area of operation of the electricity distribution Company.

Akinyosoye said that the Company discovered that it was running at a loss.

He stated, “We discovered that what we get as revenue every month fell short of the energy we purchased from those that produced the energy adding every bit of energy stolen is a loss to IBEDC”.

He said that most of the arrested suspects were found to have bye passed the meter which is a form of economic sabotage.”

The Regional head while noting that IBEDC can still boast of good customers in the region said that the company had embarked on a sensitisation programme for its Customers in the region.

He urged the people to expose the bad elements in society,  adding that “10% of the penalty that would be paid by those that flouted the law would be given as compensation to whistle-blowers.”

He,  however,  advised people who discovered any fault in their meters to report such directly to their offices for correction of such fault instead of engaging roadside technicians to fix such meters, adding that IBEDC had experts that can correct Meter faults.

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