Ikeja Electric Dissociates Self from Two Suspected Cable Thieves

In a statement on Wednesday, the energy company claimed the two suspects are employees of a third-party contractor, Arise Business Link, a company engaged by Ikeja Electric for debt recovery operations.

Recall that yesterday, the accused persons were caught by operatives of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) while cutting cables in the area and were handed over to the police for prosecution.

Reacting to the incident in a statement today, the Head of Corporate Communications at Ikeja Electric, Mr Kingsley Okotie, confirmed that the suspects are currently being interrogated by the Lagos State Police Command to gather more information about their activities, possible accomplices, and other relevant details to aid their prosecution.

He said they are not on the payroll of the electricity distribution company as it is being circulated on social media.

“To set the record straight, Ikeja Electric does not condone any unlawful act that undermines our commitment to delivering an efficient and reliable power supply. This applies to our direct employees, third-party contractors, and any individuals or groups, regardless of their status.

“Earlier this year, we made a public appeal to community members, security agencies, and traditional institutions to assist in combating vandalism and energy theft by reporting suspicious activities.

“The collaboration with local security groups and communities such as Lawson-Oke-Ira in Ojodu and Epe has been instrumental in tackling these crimes. Just weeks ago, vandals along the Epe corridor were apprehended, and now, another group has been caught.

“We commend the Lagos State Government, security agencies, local communities, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders for their unwavering support in the fight against these criminal activities.

“At Ikeja Electric, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards vandalism, energy theft, and safety infractions. These illegal activities not only disrupt power supply but also lead to significant financial losses due to infrastructure replacement and revenue shortfalls,” the statement said.