Kaduna Task Force Arrests Seven People Over Electricity Fraud, Theft

Kaduna State Task has reported the arrest of seven people caught with different criminal activities including pre-paid metre cloning, theft, metre vandalism and other related offences in the state.

Naija News learnt that the arrest of the suspects followed a series of complaints by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company of energy theft by some unidentified individuals in the state.

Confirming the arrest of the suspects in Kaduna a few moments ago, ASP Aliyu Bamalli, the Zonal Head of the Task Force told reporters that two other suspects were still on the run but assured that the security men will definitely get to their hideouts.

Bamalli revealed that the criminals were apprehended by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offenses of Northwest zonal office.

ASP Bamalli alleged that the criminal activities of the suspects had over the years affected effective power delivery to electricity consumers in the state.

He gave names of the arrested persons as, 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.

Naija News understands that the suspects before their arrest had cloned two working metres into 13 using the same meter number. Giving more details on their arrest, Bamalli revealed that they were nabbed at Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area.

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

On their part, while reacting to the development, the Kaduna Electric’s Head of Marketing, Alhaji Abubakar Jimeta, and his counterpart in Operations, Mr Abu Abass, said energy theft has resulted in the company loss of revenue estimated in millions of Naira.

They, however, promised to improve power supply to electricity consumers in the state and as well continue to join heads with the Task Force to fight against power theft and other related criminal activities within the state.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto central market was on Tuesday morning gutted by fire.

Naija News reports that the fire started around 7 am on Tuesday morning and was caused by a generating set.