Ossiomo Power alleges N100m facility vandalism, accuses Edo Police of double standards

The management of Ossiomo Power Company, located in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, has raised the alarm over the alleged vandalism and theft of its facilities, putting the value of the stolen equipment at more than N100 million.

The company also accused the Edo State Police Command of alleged double standards in handling its complaints, claiming that reports of vandalism and theft involving its facilities were not given adequate attention, while the police acted against the company in other circumstances.

In a statement made available to journalists in Benin City, the company alleged that whenever it reported the theft of high-value equipment to the police, the complaints were treated with levity.

It further alleged that its complaints were often swept under the carpet, while the police acted against it over what it described as flimsy excuses.

According to the statement, Ossiomo Power Company had reported several cases of destruction, vandalism and theft of its equipment but claimed that the police had failed to take appropriate action.

The company said the market value of the electricity equipment allegedly stolen from its premises in Ologbo between September 2025 and September 2026 exceeded N100 million.

“In November 2025, the company reported a case of vandalism of its 33kV lines — three lengths of 15-metre, 185mm XLPE cables.

“The case was reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Benin City, but up till date, nothing has been done about it,” the statement alleged.

It further alleged that on September 23, 2026, some staff members of Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Co. Ltd, CCETC, accompanied by hired thugs, vandalised the company’s cables and conductors in broad daylight.

The company claimed that some of those who allegedly trespassed on its premises and removed the equipment were CCETC staff members and their associates, while other unidentified persons also participated in the theft.

According to the statement, the incident was reported to the police, but the company claimed that no meaningful action followed.

“Interestingly, some of the alleged stolen electricity equipment, some days after the theft, was recovered at the premises of the Ologbo Division of the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.

The management further alleged that after its staff discovered the equipment at the Ologbo police station, the Divisional Police Officer released the items to the company.

It said three trucks were used to convey the recovered armoured cables and conductors, which it alleged had been vandalised and stolen by individuals linked to CCETC, back to its premises.

The company expressed concern that, despite the alleged destruction of its facilities, no person had been arrested or questioned over the incidents.

However, the management disclosed that some suspected armed thieves who allegedly forced their way into the company’s IPP2 plant on Wednesday night were arrested while attempting to cut and steal some cables.

It alleged that a police officer attached to the company shot and injured one of the suspects in the leg during the incident.

The company, however, expressed concern that the officer was subsequently arrested and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department.

“We view this arrest as one too many because, by the behaviour of the Edo State Police Command, it is becoming very obvious that they are working against the interest of Ossiomo Power Company for whatever reasons,” the statement added.

The company said it expected the police to remain impartial in security matters but alleged that its experience with the state command had been different.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of Eno Ikoedem, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, were unsuccessful, as she did not answer her telephone calls.