The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Jigawa State Command has arrested three suspected cable thieves for allegedly vandalising electricity transformers and streetlights.
Spokesperson of the Corps in the state, CSC Adamu Shehu, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, said one Timothy Marcus, ‘M’ aged 21, of No. 22 Abuja Street Chikun LGA Kaduna State but residing in Zai Quarters Dutse LGA, Jigawa State, was arrested on a suspected case of vandalisation, theft and criminal conspiracy contrary to section 1(9) of the miscellaneous offences act, section 286 and 96 of the State Penal Code Law respectively.
“The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, 5th day of July, 2023 at around 1330hrs following a call received at the State Command that a suspected electricity transformer armoured cable thief was caught by residents of Shagari quarters and seriously beaten, as a result, the NSCDC response squad were mobilised to the scene where the suspect was arrested and then taken to the hospital for medical treatment,” the statement read.
“After receiving the required treatment he confessed that he was invited by his friends aka Jamilu, Samari and one other who are now at large to partake in the stripping and packaging of the transformer armoured cable at a rocky area behind Shagari quarters, in fact he was the one who bought sacks for them which the stripped cables will be concealed and transported to a safer place but denied his involvement in the vandalisation process. The vandalised 5 meter electricity transformer armoured cable weighted 28 KG and has a monetary value of N380,000,”
In the same vein, one Hamza Ibrahim (Sayyadi) ‘M’ aged 18 of Kabala Quarters and Nazifi Abdulhamid ‘M’ aged 19 of Pentagon Quarters both from Jahun Local Government Area were on Tuesday, 4th of July, 2023 arrested on similar cases of vandalisation, theft and criminal conspiracy.
“The duo were arrested after they conspired, vandalised, stole and sold street lights armoured cables along Jahun-Gujungu road that lights up the street between Jahun Town and School of Health Technology, plunging the whole street into darkness.
“Their arrest was prompted following the discovery of abandoned stripped streetlight cable by an Almajiri boy who went to the farm to gather firewood very early in the morning.
“Upon their arrest, they confessed to have committed the offence twice which they said they sold the cables at the prices of N18,000 and N25,000 respectively to one Ibrahim in Kofar Wambai, Kano State, now at large,”
“Both suspects will be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction after thorough investigations were concluded.
“Meanwhile, the State Commandant enjoined residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest security formation as vandalisation of electricity transformers and streetlights cables is on the increase and strongly warned those in the act to desist as his personnel are on the hunt for them.”
