The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) says it nabbed two notorious electricity installation vandals in Osisioma community near Aba, Abia, along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
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EEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, told newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday, that the duo had been handed over to the Osisioma Police Station, Abia, for interrogation and further investigation.
Ezeh said that the two suspected vandals were caught red handed and apprehended on Aug. 3, by members of Osisioma Electricity Committee while vandalising electricity cables belonging to the company.
According to Ezeh, last month, a suspect was arrested by youths of Amichi community for vandalizing Ebenasa 300KVA 33/0.415KV distribution substation, located at Amichi.
“Part of the items recovered from the suspects included: 4 feeder pillar bars, 4 feeder pillar units and 3 feeder pillar fuses.
“It was also gathered that the suspects’ accomplice fled and is currently at large.
“However, effort is on to get him arrested along with the identified buyer, who is in possession of 300mm 2 x 4 single core upriser cables, 10 meters earthen wire, as well as some bolts and nuts,” he said.
In a similar development, the EEDC spokesman said that one suspect was arrested by members of Ogbu Edda community, Ebonyi, for vandalising a 300KVA 33/0.415KV distribution substation, located in the community.
“The suspect was caught in possession of 150mm-2 upriser cable and has been handed over to the Afikpo South Divisional Police Headquarters for further investigations,’’ he said.
Ezeh said that the company had been expressing concerns, over the rising cases of vandalism within its network, and had appealed to customers to be more vigilant in ensuring that the installations serving them were not vandalised.
The EEDC spokesman however, commended the youths of Amichi, people of Ogbu Edda community, Ebonyi and members of Osisioma electricity committee, for their support in apprehending the suspected vandals.
“EEDC applauds these community people’s interest and ownership attitude which they have exhibited in safeguarding the electrical installations within their environment,’’ he said.
Ezeh said that the company would work closely with the police to ensure that the suspects were prosecuted so that the law could take its course.
“The activities of these vandals not only affect our organisation’s finances, but adversely impact on the quality of services to our customers who are subjected to darkness and untold hardship whenever the electrical installations serving them are vandalised.
“We are not relenting in our effort in tackling the growing trend of vandalism and also call on well-meaning and law-abiding customers to join hands in this fight,’’ he said.