There is increased vandalisation of electrical facilities in the South-East causing lower power supply.
Specifically, the vandals drain oil from transformers which leads to explosion when supply is restored.
Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc. has expressed concern in a statement on Thursday.
EEDC covers Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states.
EEDC Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, in the statement revealed that so far eight suspected vandals have been arrested for vandalizing its equipment.
Ezeh said the suspects had been handed over to the police.
The vandals were arrested with the collaboration of customers and other critical stakeholders, including security operatives.
Ezeh said vigilantes caught one Chinonso Mgbada, a native of Ugwuachara, vandalizing aluminum conductors belonging to EEDC, on Ohatekwe Road, Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Also arrested was one Onyebuchi Uchechi who vigilantes caught vandalizing aluminum conductors at Umuobia Olokoro, Umuahia, Abia State, while the duo of Chiwendu Chukwuemeka and Azubuike Chinemere, were arrested by vigilante group at Onuinyan Village in Bende, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, for vandalising aluminum conductors, property of EEDC.
Ezeh further recounted that a 24-year-old Okechi Chukwuebuka, a native of Aguleru in Anambra East Local Government Area, who resides at Umudim village, Nnewi, was arrested by vigilante group for vandalising a transformer located at Ozubulu.
He also disclosed that one Ikechukwu Okafor was arrested along with his shuttle bus with registration number TTK165XA, by Ndiogbuonyeoma Ndiuche Arondiuzuogu Okigwe Community Vigilante, for vandalising their electricity power line; while Okechukwu Okafor and Toochukwu Ike, were arrested by indigenes of Amuzam in Ugbuawka Community, Nkanu East Local Government Area, Enugu State, for vandalising five spans of high tension wires in their community.
He said the negative effects of vandalism did not only affect electricity consumers, but also had its own toll on the distribution company, as a huge sum was expended in restoring vandalised facilities while billions of naira is lost in revenue.
The statement said, “Before now, the vandals have been carting away armoured cables and bare conductors, but in recent times, we record more cases of drained transformer oil which poses greater danger to the transformer because it could get damaged when energised without any oil in it.
“Once vandalism happens, our customers are thrown into darkness, homes are affected, and businesses are affected too as losses are recounted amid the inconveniences that lack of electricity supply brings.
“This year alone, we have spent close to N300m in the replacement and restoration of vandalised facilities, so as to ensure our customers are not left in darkness, even as the number of unattended cases are on the rise with daily occurrences.
“We, therefore, appeal to our customers to be more vigilant and safeguard the electricity installations serving them to avoid some unscrupulous elements keeping them in darkness, especially as we are going into the yuletide.
