Yobe police apprehend six suspects for vandalizing electricity transformers

The Yobe State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reported the arrest of six individuals suspected of vandalizing transformers and power substations in Damaturu.

Mr. Adamu Zakari, the State Commandant of NSCDC, made this announcement while presenting the suspects to the public in Damaturu on Wednesday.

Zakari mentioned that on April 14, at approximately 6:00 a.m., NSCDC operatives detained Adamu Abdullahi, 18, and Isa Umar, 19, for allegedly damaging armoured cables behind the Yobe State Secretariat Complex in Damaturu.

The arrest was made possible by a resident of Waziri Ibrahim Estate who raised an alarm leading to the capture of the suspects.

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Further investigation revealed that the armoured cable confiscated from the suspects was approximately 20 meters long, a 50-millimeter pure copper single-core cable valued at around N1.2 million.

Zakari also mentioned that three additional suspects were linked to the vandalism and theft of the cables, and all suspects have confessed to the crime and are cooperating with the investigation team.

The suspects admitted to vandalizing multiple transformers within Damaturu metropolis voluntarily, according to Zakari.

On April 6, residents of Nayi Nawa Tsallake in Damaturu apprehended and handed over Umar Mustapha, 34, to the command for allegedly vandalizing a power substation.

Items recovered from the suspects included a ladder, safety helmet, pliers, a pair of safety gloves, a safety waist belt with lanyard, safety boots, and fake identity cards, among other things.

Investigations revealed that some of the suspects were former ad hoc employees of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) who had been laid off by the company.

The suspects will face charges in court once the investigations are completed, as stated by the commandant.