Maduako Igbokwe l Onitsha
ENUGU, Nigeria – Five persons have been arrested by police and vigilantes for allegedly vandalising facilities of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC).
According to a release by the EEDC, Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, the suspects were arrested in different locations across South East.
According to him, one of the suspected vandal identified as Nnanna Uyamudu was arrested by men of Oyi Police Division in Oyi local government area of Anambra state during patrol.
He said the suspect was apprehended along Airport Road in possession of a large quantity of coated aluminum conductor and other exhibits recovered from the vandals.
He also said that some weeks ago, at Umuanwu Umuodo, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia stste , a vandal identified as Ikenna Obimba, was arrested by the villagers for vandalizing EEDC installation in the area.
In another development, the trio of Chinonso Ogu, Ifeanyi Nnachi and Ibiam Amah, were apprehended by some members of the Electricity Committee of the town for attacking a 500KVA distribution substation belonging to EEDC in Owerri, Imo State.
He also stated that the suspects were all handed over to the respective Police Commands for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Ezeh further appealed to their customers who have been expressing concern over the drop in power supply adding that vandalisation of equipment will definitely impact on availability of power, but while this is being managed, they should protect the substations serving them.
He also thanked the various vigilante groups and state security agencies for their support in clamping down on these bad eggs in our society who have sworn to frustrate the efforts of EEDC and subject its customers to untold inconveniences.
Meanwhile, EEDC has lamented the rate at which its electricity installations are being attacked by vandals. According to Eze, if not immediately checked, most of its customers would not be able to enjoy power supply.
He called on the customers to be more vigilant. Ezeh disclosed that vandals have taken advantage of the poor power generation experienced across the sector, which has direct impact on EEDC’s daily energy allocation, and supply availability to its customers.
He said that the company records cases of vandalized substations almost on a daily basis, and that most of them have been vandalized multiple times, thereby leaving the company with no choice but to replace the items continuously at an extra cost to EEDC.
“We are spending millions of Naira fixing these vandalized substations, and with our current financial position, this is no longer sustainable”
“Customers are therefore encouraged to be more vigilant in ensuring that electricity installations cited within their neighborhood are protected against attack, and not allow themselves to be thrown into darkness and discomfort by these criminal elements in the society” he said.
