By Desire Emmanuel
Two men who specialised in stealing materials used to transmit power supply which belong to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The two men, Ishaq Kazeem, aged 43 years and Abubakar Jubril, aged 41 years, were apprehended by men of the Kwara State command following an intelligence-led operation regarding their activities.
According to the Command in a statement on Tuesday, July 14, the men were arrested on July 10 at a mechanic workshop in Zango area near Oke-Andi Junction in Ilorin, the state capital, while they were dismantling electrical materials used to transmit power supply stolen from one of the TCN facilities.
The command added that preliminary investigations indicated that one of the items recovered from them, a brand-new electrical equipment, was stolen from the TCN Regional Store in Jebba before being transported to Ilorin for destruction and eventual sale as scrap.
“Operatives of the NSCDC command Intelligence Crack Squad stormed the location after receiving credible intelligence and caught the suspects using a grinding machine and sledgehammer to break down the materials and extract iron components,” the statement added.
Items said to have been recovered from the scene included a DAF trailer, a mini truck, brand-new and vandalised heavy-duty electrical insulation materials, metal conductor poles, iron bars, a generator, a grinding machine, a sledgehammer, a burnt copper rod and other electrical components believed to be government property.
The command said investigations had been expanded to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate as well as ensure that everyone involved is prosecuted.
