In a recent development, the Yobe State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reported the successful capture of six individuals believed to be involved in the vandalism of transformers and power substations in Damaturu.
According to Mr. Adamu Zakari, the State Commandant of NSCDC, the suspects were paraded in Damaturu on Wednesday following their arrest by NSCDC operatives for allegedly tampering with armoured cables behind the Yobe State Secretariat Complex on April 14.
During the operation, which took place at 6:00 a.m., two of the suspects, identified as 18-year-old Adamu Abdullahi and 19-year-old Isa Umar, were apprehended after a resident of Waziri Ibrahim Estate raised an alarm.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the armoured cable retrieved from the suspects measured approximately 20 meters in length and was a 50-millimeter pure copper single-core cable valued at around N1.2 million.
Further inquiries implicated three additional suspects in the act of vandalism and theft of the cables. The suspects have reportedly confessed to the crimes and are said to be cooperating with the investigative team.
In a related incident on April 6, residents of Nayi Nawa Tsallake in Damaturu caught and handed over to authorities a 34-year-old individual named Umar Mustapha for allegedly vandalizing a power substation.
Various items, including a ladder, safety helmet, pliers, safety gloves, waist belt, boots, and fake identity cards, were seized from the suspects. Investigations also revealed that some of the suspects were former ad hoc employees of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) who were terminated by the company.
The suspects are set to face legal charges once the investigations are concluded, stated Zakari.