A development which the Head, Corporate Communications of the company, Emeka Ezeh described as frustrating.
Ezeh, in a release issued today (Tuesday) in Enugu, lamented on the impact which activities of these vandals have on the company’s operations, a situation that leaves electricity customers inconvenienced for weeks and the distribution company losing revenue while expending millions of Naira, replacing vandalized items.
Just recently, a combined team of youths and Vigilante team from Omoba, Isiala Ngwa South, Abia State arrested one Ekene Ekwueme, while attempting to evacuate large quantities of vandalized aluminum conductor into his vehicle.
Ebuka Eze, a native of Ugwuaji in Enugu South LGA, Enugu State was arrested by youths from Area "E" New Owerri, Imo State, while carting away in a wheelbarrow, cables he confirmed to have vandalized from East High School area, New Owerri, Imo State. The items recovered include two meters 35mm, 25m 4 core armoured cable and an iron saw.
The Amechi Amofia Ezangbo vigilante group in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, arrested four suspected vandals identified as Alo Isreal, Alo Miracle, Elom Chukwu Emeka and Obaji Shadrack, for vandalizing a distribution substation belonging to EEDC. Items recovered from them include, armoured cable and the tricycle used in carting away the vandalized items.
In Ojoto, Anambra State, Ifeanyi Ugwu was arrested by the Ezema Ojoto Vigilante team while vandalizing 300KVA Aniawonwa distribution substation in Ojoto. Items recovered from him include two completely loosed bare conductor, down droppers, three pieces of feeder pillar copper bars, spanners, and a knife.
In a related development, at Nkono village, Ekwulobia, Chukwuemeka Okoli was arrested by Ekwulobia Vigilante team while vandalizing a 2.5KVA substation at Isuofia Road, Ekwulobia, Anambra State.
More so, the trio of Uchenna Ncheta, Chinedu Eze, and Chuks Michael were arrested by members of Akwa-Ukwu vigilante group from Nnewi, Anambra State, while attempting to vandalize Akwa-Ukwu 2, 300KVA distribution substation. It was also gathered that the trio masterminded the attack of Ibollo 500KVA substation at Oraifite, Anambra State, sometime in March this year.
All arrested suspects have been handed over to the respective Police Division in those areas, along with the items recovered from them, for proper investigation and possible prosecution.
Ezeh commended the efforts of the various vigilante groups as well as youths of the communities in apprehending these vandals that have sworn to always inflict untold hardship on innocent citizens, depriving them of quality supply and comfort.
“This is a clear indication that all our cry to our stakeholders for support and collaboration in ensuring that these installations located within their immediate environments are protected from these undesirable elements, is yielding the desired result”, Ezeh said.
He encouraged customers not to relent and should see themselves as critical stakeholders and partners committed to ensuring that EEDC’s efforts in providing quality and reliable service is actualized and sustained.