Four persons have been nabbed by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Ondo State Command, for suspected vandalism.
The suspects were arrested while allegedly transporting stolen telecommunication cables, wires, and electrical transformer components from Kano to Lagos.
The names of the suspects were given as Mogaji Ibrahim, Umaru Adamu, Abba Muhazu, and Adamu Idris.
According to the NSCDC, they were arrested at the old Ore Toll Gate along the Lagos expressway in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson for the NSCDC in Ondo State, Daniel Aidamenbor, revealed that the arrest followed actionable intelligence received by the command.
“They were apprehended while transporting vandalised telecommunication wires, BEDC equipment such as transformer parts, high tension cables, copper and armoured cables, and other cut-to-size metal objects from Kano to Lagos,” Aidamenbor said.
He confirmed that the items being conveyed by the suspects have been recovered and preserved as evidence.
Vandalism of power installations remains one of the key challenges to the improved energy sector in Nigeria.
Many communities were plunged into darkness in the past after their transformers were vandalized by a sophisticated ring.
However, protection of critical national assets, including power installations remains NSCDC’s core mandate.