Police arrest suspected thief who specializes in stealing prepaid meters
Edo State Police arrested 33-year-old Austine Ekhigiator for allegedly stealing four prepaid meters from Azagba community in Uhumwode local government area of the state.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has learned that the suspect, who lives at No. 4 Erediawa Street, Sapele Road, Benin, was apprehended by Egba Divisional Police Headquarters .
Mr. Ekhigiator, alongside three accomplices who are currently at large, allegedly stole meters installed on electricity poles in the area.
Residents of the community arrested the suspect and handed him over to the police.
Societe Beninoise de Distribution d'Electricite (BEDC) security chief Gilbert Nweke said the suspect was not a BEDC staff member.
"The suspect worked with the contractor hired by the federal government to install its National Mass Counting Program (NMMP) in Edo.
"Luck ran out and he was apprehended. They messaged us and we came.
"He confessed to committing illegal acts. So we took him and handed him over to the police.
"His fugitive accomplices will be hunted down by the long arm of the law.
"We want to appeal to the public to be very careful when people come to repair their meter, usually they end up stealing the meters," said Mr. Nweke.
ALSO READ: Why Many Lagos Residents Haven't Gotten Prepaid Meters Yet - Ikeja ElectricGladys Evbodaghe, a victim of such theft, said the suspect came to her home with two other men to repair her meter without her knowing they had removed the meter from the box.
"The suspects and his accomplices always tell the meter owners that they wanted to correct the errors on the meter, posing as BEDC personnel.
"They will climb the pole and remove the meter, put it in their bag and cover it and tell the owner that it has been fixed.
"I reported the matter to the Egba Police Station. Some members of the Egba community arrested one of the suspects who stole my meter and handed him over to the police.
>"I want my meter back because I don't want estimated billing," she said.
When NAN went to Egba police station, an officer confirmed the arrest, saying the police were on the trail of other fugitives.
(NAN)
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Edo State Police arrested 33-year-old Austine Ekhigiator for allegedly stealing four prepaid meters from Azagba community in Uhumwode local government area of the state.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has learned that the suspect, who lives at No. 4 Erediawa Street, Sapele Road, Benin, was apprehended by Egba Divisional Police Headquarters .
Mr. Ekhigiator, alongside three accomplices who are currently at large, allegedly stole meters installed on electricity poles in the area.
Residents of the community arrested the suspect and handed him over to the police.
Societe Beninoise de Distribution d'Electricite (BEDC) security chief Gilbert Nweke said the suspect was not a BEDC staff member.
"The suspect worked with the contractor hired by the federal government to install its National Mass Counting Program (NMMP) in Edo.
"Luck ran out and he was apprehended. They messaged us and we came.
"He confessed to committing illegal acts. So we took him and handed him over to the police.
"His fugitive accomplices will be hunted down by the long arm of the law.
"We want to appeal to the public to be very careful when people come to repair their meter, usually they end up stealing the meters," said Mr. Nweke.
ALSO READ: Why Many Lagos Residents Haven't Gotten Prepaid Meters Yet - Ikeja ElectricGladys Evbodaghe, a victim of such theft, said the suspect came to her home with two other men to repair her meter without her knowing they had removed the meter from the box.
"The suspects and his accomplices always tell the meter owners that they wanted to correct the errors on the meter, posing as BEDC personnel.
"They will climb the pole and remove the meter, put it in their bag and cover it and tell the owner that it has been fixed.
"I reported the matter to the Egba Police Station. Some members of the Egba community arrested one of the suspects who stole my meter and handed him over to the police.
>"I want my meter back because I don't want estimated billing," she said.
When NAN went to Egba police station, an officer confirmed the arrest, saying the police were on the trail of other fugitives.
(NAN)
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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