The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it arrested at least 100 persons for alleged energy theft in the past seven months in different parts of the state.
Sunday Agboola, the commandant of Osun NSCDC, said the suspects were arrested during a joint operation of the command and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
He stated this on Monday at the NSCDC headquarters, when seven suspects were paraded for alleged energy theft.
The suspects, he affirmed, were arrested on October 13 in Awosuru, Alekuwodo, Jaleyemi, Omigbade, and Ogo-Oluwa areas of Osogbo and had allegedly confessed to the crime.
The NSCDC commandant expressed surprise that, in spite of the several arrests made by the command, some people were still hell-bent on the illegal act.
“The offence is known as economic sabotage, and it is one of the factors militating against the development of the nation. We will not rest on our oars until we see positive changes,” he said.
Commenting on the arrest of the 100 suspects, IBEDC’s communication officer for Osun, Kikelomo Owoeye, confirmed that the suspects were arrested between April and October.
According to her, energy theft includes metre by-passing, metre tampering, and illegal connections.
“In the last seven months, we have been able to arrest 100 suspects for energy theft, and some of them are already facing prosecution in court. When people connect to our grid illegally, it will affect our genuine customers, and as for the electricity we are buying, we will not have the revenue to actually pay for our market operators.
“It is economic sabotage, and it is affecting businesses and communities as well as other customers. We appeal to residents to desist from stealing our energy. If they keep doing that, we will not remain in business, and it will affect society at large because it is an economic sabotage,” Owoeye said.
