By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) says it has nabbed two notorious electricity installation vandals in Osisioma community near Aba, Abia State along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

EEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, in a statement he made available via email on Tuesday that the duo had been handed over to the Osisioma Police Station, Abia State, for interrogation and further investigation.

Ezeh said that the two suspected vandals were apprehended on Aug. 3 by members of Osisioma Electricity Committee while vandalizing 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.

He said: “Part of the items recovered from the suspect 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.”

In a similar development, the EEDC spokesman said that one suspect was arrested by members of Ogbu Edda community, Ebonyi State, for vandalizing 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 Headquarter for further investigation,” he said.

Ezeh said that the company had been expressing concern 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 are not vandalized.”

The EEDC spokesman, however, commended the youths of Amichi, people of Ogbu Edda community, Ebonyi State and members of Osisioma electricity committee, for their support in apprehending these 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 assured that the company would work closely with the police to ensure that these suspects are prosecuted so that the law can take its course.

“The activities of these vandals not only affect our organization’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 vandalized.

“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.

Update news