The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo command, on Tuesday announced the arrest of three suspected pre-paid meter thieves by personnel of the command.
Mr Aniekan Udoeyop, Commandant of the corps in the state, made the announcement before journalists in his office in Benin.
Udoeyop disclosed that the suspects who move from house to house, and shop to shop, were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, after one of their operations in Etete community, within the state capital.
He also disclosed that the suspects who were arrested with the collaboration of local and community vigilante in Etete, had been fingered to have so far successfully removed not less than 15 pre-paid meters from the community.
He disclosed that investigations are ongoing to trace the other stolen metres.
Meanwhile, Mr Godwin Ogiefa, a property owner in Etete community who was among those whose meter had been stolen, disclosed that the suspects had been terrorising the community for more than eight months now, by removing pre-paid meter from houses within the community and environs.
He thanked the corps for finally apprehending the suspects.
He disclosed that Etete community includes Amadiyi, Mabel Erewa, Uwadiae, Obanor, Amadasun, Osawe and Omogui streets.
Meanwhile, the exhibits recovered from the suspects include pre-paid meters, voltage stabilisers and drinks.