By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Lagos Police Command has taken swift action against a group of cable thieves operating in the Lekki area, leading to the arrest and subsequent charging of eight suspects. The operation was conducted by operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who successfully apprehended the culprits and recovered a significant amount of stolen armoured cable.
In an official statement released on Friday, the Lagos Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the successful operation. According to Hundeyin, the RRS team apprehended seven of the suspects on June 1, 2023, around 9:30 p.m. in Anthony Village, Kosofe, Lagos. The RRS patrol officers noticed suspicious digging and shoveling activities in the area, leading to the discovery of the suspects attempting to steal armoured cable belonging to the Ikeja Electric company.
The identities of the arrested suspects were revealed as Kamalu Mohammed (32), Usman Lawal (33), Ibrahim Salisu (22), Hassan Salisu (20), Zulkiful Sani (23), Umar Haruna (26), and Amadu Muazu (22). Along with the recovered stolen cable, the evidence against the suspects is substantial, ensuring a strong case against them.
Following their arrest, the Lagos Police Command wasted no time in charging all eight suspects to court. This demonstrates the commitment of the authorities to swiftly address and prosecute those involved in electrical infrastructure theft, which can cause significant disruptions to the city’s power supply.
In response to the incident, Hundeyin urged residents of Lagos to promptly report any cases of theft or robbery to the nearest police station. He emphasized the importance of providing specific details and locations when reporting such crimes to facilitate efficient police response.
“Kindly help educate people that they should always report at the station. People must learn to report; it will help us and help them. It’s not enough to talk about it; the exact location must be reported,” stated Hundeyin.