A 60-yr old Muhammad Rabi’u and 12 others have been arrested in Kano for allegedly vandalizing and stealing electricity facilities worth millions of naira, just as the company claimed to have lost over N150m to vandals between September to November last year.
Parading the suspects at the premises of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) on Thursday, the Managing Director of the Company, Alhaji Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna said the persistent activtities of vandals forced the company to set up an anti-vandals tax force to curtail the menace.
"Vandalism is our major task, therefore the arrest of 13 suspected vandals is a huge success to the company. I hope the tax force would maintain the tempo until we address the situation," he said.
He called on the general public to always be vigilant and safeguard the electricity installations in their respective areas.
Commenting on the arrest, the Head of the Tax Force, DSP Muhammad Dauda, said three of the arrested persons were receivers, while the rest were real vandals.
Dauda said five suspects were apprehended at Sabon-Gari area, four in Ungoggo town, Ungoggo local government and three others were arrested at Dakata quarters.
He said since the establishment of the tax force, the rate of vandalism has reduced in the state by 50 per cent.
One of the suspected vandals, Muhammad Rabi’u Tukurawa-Balle said it was poverty that forced him into vandalising the electricity installations and that he had been in the act for one year.
"I was able to fill six bags with cables before I was caught by policemen. I use to sell the stolen cables at Kwanar Ungoggo at the cost of N400 per kilo. I have five children and I am unemployed person. I knew I have cheated the public but I am seeking for forgiveness. I promised I would not steal again," Tukurawa-Balle said.
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