Seven arrested for cloning pre-paid metres in Kaduna

 The Northwest zonal office of the Special Investigation and Prosecution Taskforce on Electricity Offences have announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with pre-paid metre cloning, theft, metre vandalism and other related offences in Kaduna State and its environs.

The Zonal Head of the Task Force, ASP Aliyu Bamalli, who paraded the suspects in Kaduna, also disclosed that two other suspects were still at large and that they were being trailed by his men.

Bamalli noted that the arrests followed consistent reports by Kaduna Electric of energy theft, vandalism which had over the years hampered effective service delivery to electricity consumers in the state.

The Task Force boss gave the list of those arrested to include, Iliya Maigeri, Alex Zamani (the chief cloner), Gambo Saidu (specializes in metre theft), Solomon Luka (Agent), Joseph Stephen (Technician) and Monday Joseph (Agent) as well as Francis Ahmadu.

Bamalli explained that the suspects had succeeded in cloning two metres into 13 metres with same meter number before their arrest by the men of the Task Force.

He added that the suspects were arrested at Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state, noting that “they are still under investigation for necessary prosecution.”

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“We arrested the syndicates following diligent investigation and manhunt because we work with Electricity Distribution Companies to safeguard against energy theft,” he said.

Earlier, the Kaduna Electric’s Head of Marketing, Alhaji Abubakar Jimeta, and his counterpart in Operations, Mr Abu Abass, had said that energy theft has caused the company loss of revenue estimated in millions of Naira.

They, however, assured that the company would continue to do their best in partnership with the Task Force in the provision of improved power supply to electricity consumers in its franchise states.

 into the incident and issued a marching order to all the tactical units to identify and apprehend the perpetrators without delay.

Recall that a team of policemen from the Borikiri Division in Port Harcourt on a pin-down point at Captain Amangala Junction were on Sunday night ambushed and attacked by unknown gunmen numbering about 17, killing one cop, injuring others and stole a rifle.

The Command spokesman explained that at the wake of the attack the police patrol vehicle belonging to the attacked team was riddled with bullet holes. He said the corpse of the cop has been evacuated and deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.

Omoni said, “I can confirm the unfortunate and mindless attack last night on our Personnel from Borikiri Division, posted on a Pin-Down Point at Capt Amangala Junction, Borikiri Port Harcourt.

“While on duty, unknown gunmen numbering about 17 launched a surprise attack on them, leading to the death of an Inspector of Police, while others sustained gunshot wounds. The Police Patrol Vehicle belonging to the Team was riddled with bullet holes. The Corpse of the late Inspector has been evacuated and deposited in Mortuary for Autopsy.

“In the meantime,  the CP has ordered a serious manhunt for the perpetrators, with the marching order to all the Tactical Units to identify and apprehend them without delay. The Area is under close monitoring.”