The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, has arrested two suspects for allegedly vandalising telecommunications infrastructure in Eripa and Otan Ayegbaju areas of the state.
The arrest followed a report of vandalism received by the command on Tuesday, December 9, which prompted swift action by operatives.
Speaking on the incident, the State Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, disclosed that engineers from IHS Telecommunications Company had earlier visited the affected locations on December 1 and discovered that the backup batteries installed at the sites had been stolen.
Sotiyo said investigations led to the arrest of Arisekola, a 35-year-old commercial driver, and Alhaji Adedokun, a 50-year-old scrap dealer, both of whom reportedly confessed to their roles in the crime.
According to the commandant, Arisekola, a resident of Iree, admitted that he was hired to transport the stolen batteries to Ikirun, where they were sold to Adedokun.
He added that the scrap dealer also confessed to buying 14 batteries vandalised from the two telecoms sites.
The NSCDC boss noted that two other suspects connected to the incident had escaped and were currently being pursued by security operatives.
Sotiyo assured residents that the corps would continue to intensify efforts to protect critical national assets, stressing that anyone found involved in vandalism would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He also called on the public to support security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities in their communities.
