A grandfather of three and a trained electrician, Oladele Elegbede, has confessed to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos that he vandalizes transformers whenever he is broke.
Elegbede, who was caught with cutting pliers, said that he had sold cables he obtained from transformers he vandalized in Railway Crossing more than seven times.
In his confessional statement, he said: “I was arrested around 5a.m. when I went to that transformer to operate. I was there last week. I cut cables whenever I am broke. I have three grandchildren. My wife is dead.
“The last cable I sold weighed one kilogramme and I was paid N1,500. I sold it at Oju-Irin Pen Cinema. The one I just cut can fetch me N1,300.”
Some of the residents of the area, who followed Elegbede to RRS Headquarters in Alausa, alleged that he was the one responsible for the vandalisation of the
transformer cable earlier on Monday.
On his part, the Commander of RRS, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Olatunji Disu, said: “Elegbede was caught while vandalising transformer cables in Dopemu at around 4:37a.m.
“The suspect had, a week before the incident, stole cables around the transformer throwing the entire community into darkness.
“The suspect has been transferred to the Lagos State Task Force for prosecution.”
