Top NEPA Officials Arrested Over Transformer Theft

The police in Oyo state have arrested two former employees of the defunct National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) over alleged transformer theft.

The police spokesperson in the state, Adewale Osifeso, said the command’s anti-crime patrol arrested the two former NEPA employees following credible intelligence about their activities.

Mr Osifeso said the suspects were arrested on Saturday at about 2:00 p.m. in the Aroje area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

He said five other suspects were arrested along with the former NEPA staff over the alleged transformer theft.

Mr Osifeso said one big transformer valued at N5 million and a Toyota DAINA Truck used to convey the transformer were recovered from the suspects.

The spokesperson said the suspects confessed to have removed the transformer from where it was installed for onward movement to their criminal receiver in Lagos State.

He said the men are suspected of being responsible for similar criminal activities in various parts of Oyo State and its neighbouring states.

Also arrested were a bricklayer, a hunter and one other, who disguised as military officers by wearing military camouflage uniforms and other accoutrements to attack and rob unsuspecting public members at Ajoda and Egbeda axis in Ibadan.

Mr Osifeso said the suspects were arrested on Thursday at about 10:30 a.m. in military gear for their operation, while one was found in possession of a single-barrel gun.

He said exhibits recovered from the suspects included military shorts, one Fulani turban, one red beret and one dagger.

The police also arrested a 25-year-old suspect, who masterminded the plot to kidnap his elder brother and later collected N1.5 million from the brother after a series of threat calls to his brother through three of his accomplices.

(NAN)