The Osun State Police Command has arrested six suspects over the alleged vandalisation and theft of a high-tension powerline pole at Eko-Ende Junction in Ikirun, Osun State.
The Punch reported that the arrests followed intelligence received by the police concerning the suspected activities of a syndicate allegedly responsible for the repeated vandalisation of electricity infrastructure in Ikirun and neighbouring communities.
According to the command, the area had suffered prolonged power outages as a result of the alleged destruction and theft of electrical cables and other power assets.
“Ikirun and its environs for the past few months have been experiencing incessant vandalisation and stealing of cables and other electrical assets which have left the town in total darkness,” the Command stated in a press release signed by DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, Police Public Relations Officer, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police on Tuesday.
The command said operatives from the Ikirun Division, acting on the intelligence, arrived at the scene at about 6:00am and caught six suspects allegedly cutting the high-tension pole with a cutting machine powered by a generating plant.
“Acting on credible intelligence received at about 0600 hours, Police operatives attached to Ikirun Division led by the DPO, acted swiftly and visited the scene, six suspects found cutting the high-tension pole with a cutting machine powered by a generating plant were subsequently arrested. This syndicate is suspected to be the ones terrorizing Ikirun and its environs,” the statement continued.
The suspects were identified as Onabamiji Emmanuel, 55, a staff member of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in Ikirun; Bolaji Odusanya, 51, also an IBEDC staff member; Alimi Akeem, 36, an IBEDC employee; Balogun Kehinde, 52, an IBEDC security personnel; Oyewo Hammed, 31, a welder; and Oladosu Hammed, 22, also a welder.
The police said items recovered from the suspects included a cutting machine, generating plant and welding machine, which were allegedly used in the operation.
“Exhibits recovered from them includes: (1) Cutting machine, (2) Generating plant and (3) Welding machine used in carrying out the act. Investigation into the matter is ongoing,” the release stated.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has directed the case to be transferred to SCID for discreet investigation, and the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” DSP Ojelabi said in the statement.
The command also warned individuals involved in the vandalisation or theft of public infrastructure to stop, stressing that it would continue to use intelligence-led operations to identify and arrest offenders.
“The Osun State Police Command therefore warns individuals and groups involved in the vandalism, destruction, or stealing of public infrastructure to desist from such criminal acts, as the Command will continue to deploy intelligence and operational resources to detect and apprehend offenders, while encouraging the public to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information that will assist in preventing and combating crime across Osun State,” the statement added.
The police commissioner assured residents that the command would continue to protect critical public infrastructure and ensure that those responsible for acts capable of undermining essential public utilities face justice.
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has assured members of the public that the Command remains resolute in protecting public infrastructure and ensuring that individuals involved in acts capable of sabotaging critical government and public utilities are brought to justice,” the release concluded.
