Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have arrested two suspects over the alleged theft, vandalisation and unlawful removal of electrical materials belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria in Kwara State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Ayoola Shola, the Kwara State Commandant of the NSCDC, Abbas Mohammed, announced the development at the Command headquarters in Ilorin, describing the arrests as a major breakthrough in the fight against economic sabotage.
Mohammed identified the suspects as Ishaq Kazeem, 43, and Abubakar Jubril, 41, saying they were apprehended on July 10 during an intelligence-led operation carried out by operatives of the Command’s Intelligence Crack Squad.
He said, “The suspects were arrested at a mechanic workshop in the Zango area near Oke-Andi Junction, after Bravo Filling Station in Ilorin, where they were allegedly dismantling electrical materials suspected to have been stolen from the Transmission Company of Nigeria.”
The commandant added that preliminary investigations revealed that the brand-new electrical equipment was unlawfully removed from the TCN Regional Store in Jebba before being transported to Ilorin for destruction and eventual sale as scrap.
“Following credible intelligence, our operatives stormed the location and caught the suspects allegedly using a grinding machine and a sledgehammer to dismantle the electrical materials and extract iron components,” Mohammed said.
The commandant revealed that exhibits recovered from the scene included a DAF truck with registration number BRK-48-XA (Kebbi), a mini truck with registration number ABJ-739-FX (Abuja), brand-new and vandalised heavy-duty electrical insulation materials, metal conductor poles, iron bars, a generator, a grinding machine, a sledgehammer, a suspected burnt copper rod and other electrical components believed to be government property.
“I have declared war against vandals, economic saboteurs and all criminal elements bent on undermining the efforts of government and threatening our critical national assets and infrastructure,” Mohammed said.
He added, “Under my watch, there will be no hiding place for criminals in Kwara State. The Command will continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations to identify, arrest, investigate and prosecute anyone found engaging in acts of vandalism, theft of government property or any other criminal activity.”
Mohammed said investigations had been expanded to identify and arrest other members of the alleged syndicate, assuring that everyone connected to the crime would be brought to justice.
“We will not relent until criminal elements are brought to justice in accordance with the law,” he said, while reaffirming the Command’s commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure across Kwara State.
