Two suspected electricity cable vandals, Eden Ubong and Eghosa Izevbokun, impersonating the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), have been arrested while vandalising the DisCo’s transformers in Edo State.

One of the suspects, Ubong, was said to have been apprehended at the scene while vandalising a 200KVA and 500KVA substations at Play House and Iyayi in the locality. 

He was alleged to have been arrested with 70mm2 by 7 meters of cable from Play House, 200kva Substation and 70mm2 by 7 meters of cable from Iyayi 500kva Substation.

Mrs Evelyn Gbiwen, BEDC’s Head, Branding and Corporate Communications, said Ubong was parading a fake BEDC identity card at the time he was arrested.

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She said another suspect identified as Eghosa Izevbokun was also caught with stolen items from various substations.

She explained that Izevbokun was caught with 10 meters of copper wire from a 500kva power transformer at 3rd Cemetery Road and 20 meters of 500mm2 cable from a 500kva Substation at Old Rubber Board Road in Benin City.

She described the suspects’ arrest as a significant breakthrough in the fight against vandals, assuring of the company’s commitment to combating vandalism as “It doesn’t only affect our operations, but also tarnishes our reputation.”

While urging communities to be vigilant and guard their substations to prevent vandalism, she charged them to report any suspicious activities around substations and support the company’s efforts in combating vandalism.