In a move to crackdown on growing infrastructure vandalism, a Lagos court has handed down prison sentences to two individuals convicted of tampering with electricity transformers.
The Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ejigbo sentenced Abubakar Alido to one year in prison for vandalising a 500KVA transformer belonging to Ikeja Electric Plc. In a separate incident, Ishola Olatunji received a six-month sentence for attempting to vandalise another Ikeja Electric transformer.
The crimes, according to a statement by Head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Kingsley Okotie, occurred in the Egbeda area of Lagos, where Ikeja Electric operates. Alido was caught by a security guard as he was tampering with transformer cables on Michael Aladesuyi Street. Olatunji was apprehended by vigilant community members as he tried to vandalise a transformer on Karimu Laka Street.
“These sentences should serve as a strong deterrent to other potential vandals,” said Engr. Abayomi Bolorunde, Business Manager of Ikeja Electric’s Akowonjo Business Unit. “Vandalism causes significant damage to our operations and inconvenience for our customers.”
Ikeja Electric has made combating infrastructure vandalism a priority, working closely with law enforcement and local communities. The company’s spokesman, Kingsley Okotie, praised the collaborative efforts that led to the successful prosecution of these cases.
“Proactive measures and community partnerships are crucial in our ongoing battle against vandalism,” Okotie said. “We will continue leveraging these relationships to ensure perpetrators face justice and protect essential services for the public.”
The court underscored the importance of these sentences in deterring future crimes amid a rise in transformer vandalism incidents in the area. Ikeja Electric remains committed to safeguarding its assets and maintaining reliable electricity supply for its customers.