By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has decried the incessant attacks on its power installations across the Southeast zone.
This development was expressed by the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, following the arrest of two suspected vandals in Aniocha area of Anambra State.
The suspects identified as Odom Sunday, a native of Ozara in Agwu Local Government Area, Enugu State and Okwuchukwu Nweze, a native of Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State, both were arrested by Akwaeze Vigilante team for attacking Magbuwa 2 Distribution Substation, property of EEDC, located in Akwaeze Village, Aniocha Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Ezeh confirmed that the suspects, along with the recovered vandalised items and a Nissan Hummer bus used by the suspects for the operation, have been handed over to the Police Area Command, Uga, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“The increasing rate of attack on our facilities has become a source of worry for us as an organisation”.
“It is even more worrisome that despite the series of arrests and convinctions, these vandals are bent on perpetrating their heinous acts which are affecting our operations and inconveniencing our customers”.
Ezeh further stated that the attack is one out of so many that has taken place within the EEDC network in the past two months.
“Almost on a daily basis our substations are attacked and this has caused a retrogression in the quality of service delivery to our customers.”
It will be recalled that sometime in May 2021, activities of vandals resulted in over 50 communities in Enugu and Ebonyi states being thrown into darkness, following the attack on Amechi -Agwu 33kV mainline, with over 40 spans of Aluminum conductors removed and more than 15 high tension poles damaged.
Ezeh commended vigilante groups and government security agencies for their support and roles played in the apprehension of vandals and enjoined them not to relent.
He appealed to customers to adopt an ownership attitude towards power installations cited within their environment, stating that the fight against vandalism is a collective effort of both customers and EEDC, and can only be achieved if all hands are on deck.