The Jos Electric Distribution (JED) Plc has fumed over the persistent attacks on its electric cables, lamenting the loss, repairs, and lives lost within its franchise areas.

The JED State Operating Officer in Bauchi, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, while speaking with journalists on the activities of vandals on the company‘s assets, said that about 11 suspects are with the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

One of the suspects, Aliyu Yunusa from Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi, while answering questions from journalists at the Police Headquarters, said he is a blacksmith. He also admitted to having vandalized JED’s armoured cables as raw materials to make pots for sale.

He said, “I was arrested in Bara for vandalizing electric cables. I have not been involved in this kind of crime before. In fact, I regret going into it. I am a blacksmith; I used this as my raw material to make pots.”

Another suspect, Hamza Muhammad, a 17-year-old motorcycle mechanic, said that he went into the crime to feed himself because his current occupation could not cater to him.

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He added, “I regret this; I have brought shame to my family and the community.”

Asked whether he was not scared of electrocution, he said that he had committed the crime three times and was always targeting areas where there was a power outage.

Another suspect, Al-Amin Ibrahim, who identified himself as an aluminium cable buyer from the suspects, said that he is a blacksmith who purchases aluminium scraps from scavengers per kilogramme.

He said, “I buy the cable and alloy wheels per kg. They normally bring it to me for sale, but I don’t steal.”

Speaking, Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Ahmed Wakil, said that the suspects were arrested from various areas in the state, adding that one of them was arrested after he personally reported a crime case in his apartment in Kirfi, but Police investigation linked him to cable vandalization in the area.

According to him, “Three suspects were nabbed while another receiver was linked to the crime. The investigation is still ongoing; we shall charge them to court after our investigation.”

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Also, NSCDC investigating officer, DSC Sani Ayuba, said that seven suspects are currently facing trial for vandalization of electricity cables from different parts of the state.

“We have one of the suspects who is currently receiving treatment after suffering electrocution. His skin was badly burnt. He was vandalizing the electric transformer part before the spark,” he said.

Meanwhile, the JED’s Bauchi State Operating Officer, Ibrahim Abubakar, commended the security agencies for bringing the perpetrators to justice, saying that the company would deepen collaboration with the community to enlighten them on the security of power cables and transformers.

“We urge the customers to play the role of security in their various communities. This act puts more financial burden on us as a company; it has economic loss to our customers as well. And talking of the danger associated with vandalism, it cannot be measured,” he said.