The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has decried the increasing rate of vandalism of its cables and equipment.
In a statement in Enugu on Saturday, the company called for concerted efforts by members of the public and the law enforcement agents to stop the economic sabotage.
“So far, the company has recorded no fewer than 55 cases of vandalism from January to date, and has also expended substantial amount of money repairing and replacing vandalised equipment.
“The EEDC wishes to reiterate its commitment toward fighting vandalism and calls on well meaning and law abiding citizens to work together in fighting this ugly menace,’’ the statement signed by its Head of Communications, Mr Emeka Eze, said.
The statement said that only recently in Abakaliki, three persons were arrested by the police and subsequently arraigned, tried and convicted for crimes ranging from conspiracy to vandalism of armoured cables and transformers belonging to the EEDC.
It said that two of the accused persons, Ndubuisi Ogbonnia, 18, and Chinedu Gabriel, 21, were prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abakaliki where they both pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and vandalism.
The statement said the duo was sentenced to a jail term of three years each on the first count of conspiracy but that Ogbonnia was jailed four years on the second charge of vandalism while Gabriel was jailed six years.
It said that one Ifeanyichukwu Okoye was also arraigned for vandalising an EEDC transformer at Ndiogbu village, Abakaliki and was sentenced to three years and five years respectively on the first and second counts.
The statement commended vigilance groups, civil defence, the army and the police for working tirelessly to ensure that those behind the acts were brought to book. (NAN)