The Police Command in Ondo State has commenced investigation into an alleged arson attack at a warehouse in Okitipupa that destroyed prepaid electricity meters worth over ?10 million.

The spokesperson for the command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, made this known in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.

Ayanlade said that an arson attack on the prepaid meter warehouse was a grievous offence and the arsonists would not go unpunished.

“We have launched investigation into the arson incident at the prepaid meter warehouse.

“The public should be assured that the culprits will face the law after the conclusion of our investigation,” Ayanlade said.

NAN recalled that a warehouse belonging to one of the Meter Asset Providers accredited by the Ondo State Government to supply prepaid meters under the O’DATIWA Metering Scheme was set ablaze on Monday by unknown persons.

The warehouse, owned by Active Achievers Nigeria Limited, is located on Barracks Road, Okitipupa, and was said to have contained over 100 Active Energy Prepaid Meters worth N10 million, which were destroyed in the inferno.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Active Achievers Nigeria Limited, Mr Henry Akinbola-Oyinbo, told journalists that residents in the neighbourhood could not salvage anything from the facility due to the raging fire.

“We were informed early in the morning that a raging fire was consuming our warehouse.

“Our Active Energy Prepaid Meters, though the best and most affordable in the market at the moment, are not inflammable, and as such could not have caught fire without someone deliberately setting it ablaze.

“This is so devastating that agents of darkness could strike in this manner.

“Most disheartening is the commendable initiative of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa to end estimated billing for energy consumers in Ondo State through the O’Datiwa Metering Scheme, which some bad elements appear determined to frustrate,” he lamented.

Akinbola-Oyinbo, however, called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the perpetrators. (NAN)