A customer has assaulted staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Enugu Nanka community in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State for disconnecting his electricity line over non-payment of bills.

Izuchukwu Ofojama, during the incident last Saturday, allegedly damaged the company’s vehicle while on official assignment in Enugwu-Nanka Community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

In a viral video seen by our correspondent, Izuchukwu told the EEDC staff not to cut his lines.

But, the DISCO officials alleged that the building has been illegally consuming electricity without paying with Izuchukwu unable to present evidence of payment upon demand by the EEDC team.

“To this, the team moved to disconnect his premises which he resisted.

“When he was eventually disconnected, he got raged and not only did he assault the EEDC officials, he used a log of wood to smash the front and rear wind shields of their vehicle along with the side mirrors.

“He also used a screwdriver to puncture the two rear tyres of the vehicle,” the spokesman of EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, narrated further in a statement on Saturday.

Ezeh also reported the President General of Nanka community, Rev. Canon Ifeanyichukwu Ezeike, made a reconciliatory move regarding the action Izuchukwu Ofojama.

He quoted the community leader to have totally condemned the act by Izuchukwu.

“The President General, in company of Onyekwere Ofojama (brother to Izuchukwu Ofojama) were at the Ekwulobia District office of EEDC to appease the company on this ugly action by Izuchukwu who has been at large after the incident.

“Ezeike described the incident as very unfortunate and unwarranted. He expressed the community’s intention to settle the matter amicably, and their commitment to repair the damages on the vehicle, reiterating that the whole community condemned the action,” Ezeh said in the statement, quoting the PG as saying “we don’t think the young man was in his right senses. The entire village and town also condemned his action.”

The duo was received at Ekwulobia District by the team from EEDC Corporate Headquarters, led by the Head of Security, Mr. Frank Ejiofor and Head of Health, Safety & Environment, Dr. Francis Iwu, along with the District Business Manager, EEDC Ekwulobia District, Jachi Umunna.

Reacting, Ejiofor frowned at situations where staff of the organization are attacked while discharging their legitimate duties and called on customers to always make use of the established complaint redress channels to express their grievances, stressing that the company does not tolerate such action by anyone or group.

He commended the community and its leadership for their stand in condemning in its entirety, the action of their kinsman while insisting that they provide him, saying that the company will stop at nothing in prosecuting anyone that assaults any of its staff on duty.

Ejiofor emphasised that the company has the highest regard for its customers and does not encourage customers resorting to violence as a way of expressing their grievances. (The Nation)

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