By; Sani Magaji Muhammed, Kaduna.
Special Investigation and Prosecution Taskforce on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO) North-West zone arrests seven persons who specialize in metre cloning, metre theft, metre vandalism, metre by-passing and other electric crimes in Kaduna and environs.
The suspects were paraded at the task force Kaduna office led by the North-West zone Head, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP. Aliyu Bamalli.
Asp Aliyu Bamalli who is the second in command; operation officer Special Investigation and Prosecution of the task force said they were able to arrest the seven suspects involved in electric related offenses which include meter cloning among others, assuring of the task force’s commitment in investigating electric theft and other related offenses in the country.
He assured that the suspects will be charge to court for prosecution, promising to deal with anyone caught in the act of such crimes while advising individuals to desist from such negative tendencies.
Bamalli disclosed that the suspects cloned two metres into 13 metres with same number. He said the suspects were arrested in Barnawa in Kaduna South local government with two still at large.
Also speaking, the head of marketing of Kaduna Electric, Abubakar Jimeta and Head of Operations Engr. Abu Abass described the losses the company is facing as a result of the crime such as the suspects were caught for, thereby affecting the efficiency of services to its customers.
They assured that KAEDCO will continue to do its best in collaboration with SIPTEO in the provision of improved power supply
One of the victims, Alonge Joseph narrated what transpired that lead to the arrest of the suspects.
The suspects confessed to being caught in the act.
Those arrested include Iliya Maigeri, Alex Zamani; the chief cloner, Gambo Saidu who specializes in metre theft, Solomon Luka an agent, Joseph Stephen a technician, Monday Joseph also an agent, and Francis Ahmadu. KAEDCO called on the general public to desist from tempering with meters and to report any case to the appropriate authorities.
