By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, has arrested nine suspects for unlawfully tampering with electricity meters.
The personnel of the Command, alongside officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), arrested the suspects recently at Owode during a joint task force operation.
The suspects were apprehended for allegedly tampering with electricity meters in their respective residences in order to bypass appropriate payment for the energy they consumed.
The Osun NSCDC Commandant, Sunday Agboola, in a statement signed by the Osun NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Adeleke Kehinde, confirmed the arrest on Friday.
He revealed that the suspects made confessional statements admitting to the allegations of committing energy theft, adding that the nine suspects arrested included eight males and one female.
Agboola said that the suspects will be charged to court in order to dissuade others who intend to commit such crimes in their residences.
The Osun NSCDC Boss also said that energy theft, vandalism and other vices were part of major setbacks hindering the development of the nation.
He urged members of the public to be part of the continuing efforts aimed at safeguarding critical national assets in their neighbourhoods by reporting the activities of vandals and saboteurs to the nearest NSCDC office.