Three persons, Sunday Olatunde,
Michael Eyen and Aina Adebesin have been remanded in prison for vandalizing Ikeja
Electric’s 500KV Transformer at Orisunbare, Ayoboarea of Lagos State.
The accused persons were on May 25, 2017,
arraigned before the Magistrate Court, Ogbafor for vandalism.
The men were apprehended on May
23, 2017 at about 1.45am by the vigilante groups of Orisunbare Community Ayobo
and handed over to the police.
They were arraigned on a three count charge bordering on
conspiracy to commit felony; attempt to steal and vandalize Distribution Transformer
cables and unlawful possession of dangerous tools/rubber gloves/criminal
charms.
The accused persons were consequently remanded in Kirikiri
Maximum Prisons pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions. The case was
adjourned to June 19, 2017 for mention.
The Divisional Police
Officer (DPO) of Ayobo Police Station, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP),
Anyanwu Emeka Kingsley, commended the efforts of the community in apprehending
the suspects. The DPO noted that the support by vigilante groups in
collaboration with Nigeria Police was an effective collaboration to curb crime
in communities.
Prior to the arrest of
the three men, about five transformers had been vandalized within the community
including Igegu 200kva, Ibukun (Promise land 3) 300kva, Promise land 500kva and
Baba Abu 500kva.
Reacting to the arrest,
Head, Corporate Communications Ikeja Electric, Mr Felix Ofulue, said that the Company
has suffered over thirty attacks on transformer sub-stations within the last
four months, particularly in Igando, Ikotun, Akowonjo in Oshodi and Ayobo among
other locations.
According to him, repairs
on the vandalized assets were huge drain on the business, not to mention a
major setback for the socio-economic wellbeing for the local community.
Ofulue said: “I urge residents
to remain vigilant at all times and report any suspected persons tampering with
electrical items in their neighbourhoods to the nearest police station.”
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