Six suspects, including four persons identified as staff members of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and a security personnel attached to the company, have been arrested by the Osun State Police Command for alleged vandalisation and stealing of electrical infrastructure in Ikirun.
In a statement issued by the Osun Police PRO, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi on Tuesday, the suspects were arrested while allegedly cutting a high-tension powerline pole at Eko-Ende Junction, Ikirun, with a cutting machine powered by a generating plant.
According to the Osun State Police Command, Ikirun and its environs had been experiencing incessant vandalisation and stealing of cables and other electrical assets over the past few months, leaving the town in total darkness.
The command said police operatives attached to the Ikirun Division acted on credible intelligence received at about 6:00 a.m. and visited the scene, where they found the six suspects allegedly cutting the high-tension pole.
Those arrested were identified as Onabamiji Emmanuel, 55, a staff member of IBEDC, Ikirun; Bolaji Odusanya, 51, also a staff member of IBEDC; Alimi Akeem, 36, a staff member of IBEDC; Balogun Kehinde, 52, an IBEDC security personnel; Oyewo Hammed, 31, a welder; and Oladosu Hammed, 22, also a welder.
The police said a cutting machine, generating plant and welding machine allegedly used in carrying out the act were recovered from the suspects.
The command said the suspects were suspected to be members of a syndicate allegedly responsible for the vandalisation and stealing of electrical infrastructure in Ikirun and its environs.
It added that investigation into the matter was ongoing, while the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Zungura, had directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.
The suspects, according to the police, will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
The command warned individuals and groups involved in the vandalisation, destruction or stealing of public infrastructure to desist from such acts, saying it would continue to deploy intelligence and operational resources to detect and apprehend offenders.
It also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that could assist the police in preventing and combating crime across Osun State.
The Commissioner of Police assured members of the public that the command remained resolute in protecting public infrastructure and ensuring that individuals involved in acts capable of sabotaging critical government and public utilities were brought to justice.
Department of Sociology and Psychology in our tertiary institutions, should do research analyses on the root causes of such actions.Althougg results will equally apply to government officials in highest levels of government, robbing the nations from their indept mind of deep satanic corruption,openly visible to all Nigerians as of today and tomorrows to come.