By: Titus Oise, Benin.
The management of Ossiomo Power Company in Ologbo near Benin City has accused the Edo State Police Command of double standards in its actions as they affect the company.
The management of the company, in a press statement signed by its image-maker, Deacon Ralph Okhiria, alleged that each time the company reported theft of its high-value equipment to the police, such issues are treated with levity and swept under the carpet, but the police would swing into action against the company under any flimsy excuses.
“It is on record that Ossiomo Power Company has on several occasions reported cases of destruction, vandalization and stealing of its expensive equipment by the agents of darkness and enemies of light but the police did not do anything about them.
The company says the market value of the electricity equipment so far stolen from the premises of Ossiomo Power Company in Ologbo between September 2025 and September 2026, is more than 100 million naira.
“In November 2025, the company reported a case of vandalization of its 33kv lines – 3 lengths of 15 meters each 185mm XLPE cables. This case was reported to the State CID, Benin City, but up till date, they did nothing about it.
“Besides, on September 23, this year, some CCETC staff supported by their hired thugs in broad day light went and vandalize Ossiomo Power Company’s cables and conductors. Some of those who illegally trespassed and illegally removed the high valued equipment included faces who also participated in the theft. The matter was reported to the police and nothing came out of it.
“Interestingly, some of the alleged stolen expensive electricity equipment were some days after the theft, were recovered at the premises of the Ologbo Division of the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force.
The management of Ossiomo Power Company further alleged that after its staff discovered the company’s stolen property in the Ologbo police station, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Azuonwu Gideon, later released the electricity equipment to the company.
It was learnt that three trucks were used to convey the recovered armoured cables and conductors earlier vandalized and stolen in broad daylight by the alleged CCETC staff and thugs, back to the Ossiomo Power Company premises.
Continuing, the statement said,”In all of these, not one person was arrested or questioned by the police despite the glaring evidence against them.But as fate would have it, some armed thieves last Wednesday night forced their way into the Ossiomo’s IPP2 plant and were cutting and trying to steal some of the company’s cables, when one of the mobile policemen on guard duty at the premises shot and injured one of the alleged armed thieves in the leg.
“For the Edo State Police high command, this was not to be as the police officer involved in the shooting was arrested and detained at the criminal investigation department of the state police headquarters, and as at press time, the said police officer was still in detention.
According to the management of Ossiomo Power Company, the police will not act when its property are being destroyed, vandalized or stolen, but will happily arrest one of its members doing his legitimate duties.
“We view this arrest as one too many because by the behaviours of the police 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. We are aware that the police force should not take sides on security matters but unfortunately, the state police command has made our case different.
“Sadly enough, only in the morning of Thursday (29/10/2026), another set of thieves, three in number again went to the premises of Ossiomo’s IPP2 power plant and vandalize some of its sensitive electricity equipment and attempted to get away with their stolen items when they were fortunately caught by the security officers at the establishment.
“They were promptly rounded up and taken to the Ologbo police station for questioning. But unfortunately, the police refused to take them in because one of the thieves had injuries on his body.The police insisted that the thief must be first treated medically before they can take over the matter. Officials of Ossiomo Power later took the vandals to one of the hospitals in Ologbo.
“We believe that the inaction of the police is the reason thieves and vandals keep ravaging the Ossiomo’s facilities. We therefore call on the police to wake up to their responsibilities.To further make things difficult for the company, the DPO of Ologbo, Mr. Gideon Azuwonu, sent back an Ossiomo staff and the thief, claiming that the suspect was not well enough and therefore should be taken back to the hospital for further treatment.
“The DPO asked the Ossiomo staff to make private arrangement to watch over the suspect to make sure he does not escape from the hospital. All appeals to the DPO to deploy a police officer to watch over the suspect yielded no fruitful results.
Efforts to get the comments of the state police public relations officer (PPRO), Eno Okoedem, on the matter proved abortive as she did not answer her phone calls
