Residents of Ojoto, Wokoma, Elechi and Ekwe streets in Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt City Council of Rivers State, have been thrown into darkness after some armed men vandalised a transformer in the area.

On Monday morning, the residents woke up to find out that the transformer located at Elechi/Wokom Street had been tampered with over the night by vandals.

A source said the vandals who were armed came with a Hilux vehicle at about 3:30 am on Monday, the 15thof January, to vandalize the transformer.

According to a resident of the area, Stephen Rowland, the thieves were about six in number; four were operating on the transformer, while two were mounted at the edges of the fenced transfer with their guns.

“So nothing we can do, nobody will go and fight somebody that is holding a gun.

“They collected the armoured cable, anything that they know that is valuable that will give them money. The only thing left that they did not take from that transformer is the transformer itself (container). But everything, they collected it.

“We have not reported to the Police but we have reported to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED). They are aware of it,” he explained.

It was observed that the cast concrete used in covering the armoured cables at the ground level was broken by the hoodlums while several cables were cut. (The Guardian)