Two People Electrocuted In Anambra while Vandalising Power Installations

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Awka – Two suspects, who specialises in vandalization of power installations of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), were at the weekend send to their untimely graves, after they were electrocuted.

One of the suspect, identified as Francis Ezeugwu, and his accomplice, whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time were short-circuited on top of EEDC pole at Okpunnoegbu Ekulu in Nnewi and Agulu town both in Anambra state, South east Nigeria.

AFRICAN EXAMINER gathered that another suspect, a young man of about 25 years old, is presently hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital in the State over burns he sustained while attempting to vandalize EEDC’s 2.5 MVA transformer, which serves customers within Nnewi area.

Public Affairs Manager of EDDC , Mr Eugene Aniowo, who disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday, said the incidents have been reported to the Police.

He decried the alarming rate of incessant vandalism of EEDc’s installations in parts of South east zone.

Aniowo, recalled that a High Court in Abakaliki recently convicted a young man for vandalizing property of the Company, adding that about thirty transformers had been vandalized in the last six months in Nnewi alone.

He said that Ezeugwu used iron ladder to carry out his nefarious act, saying that he was electrocuted during the process, while the mangled body of the suspect “in Agulu
episode was found inside EEDC substation while attempting to vandalize the transformer components.

“His tools were also found around his dead body” Aniowo hinted.

“The oil in the transformers was drained and their cable installations were stolen, putting thousands of customers out of service.

“EEDC condemns this spate of vandalism and will continue to work with the Nigerian Police and other security agents, Presidents-General of Town Unions and the general public in the war against vandalism.

“EEDC regrets the spate of vandalism on her network and other installations. This had led to loss of lives and untold hardship on our customers, who suffer outages as a result.

“EEDC has been campaigning through radio, television and public meetings for
perpetrators of such acts to desist from their ways. We have also arrested many vandals and handed them over to the authorities.

“It is unfortunate that despite the campaigns and arrests, some people still carry out such activities at the risk of their lives and interrupt the enjoyment of electricity by our customers.

“EEDC requests that the general public be vigilant and not allow its network and installations to be vandalized within their communities.

“EEDC customers should see electricity installations around them as theirs and ought to protect them as such. They should pay their bills as at when due and report any faults to our nearest office. Under no circumstances should any customer engage a non-EEDC employee to work
on our network or installations. Such acts put the lives of the untrained persons at risk.”

According to him, the electricity company, had lost several millions of naira in revenue as a result of the nefarious activities of vandals.