5th December, 2022
Daredevil vandals have destroyed six transmission towers, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company has said.
The Media Adviser to the NDPHC, Mr Sanyan Adejokun who said this in a statement on Sunday that the vandals also killed a vigilante operative in the process.
According to him, an encounter between the vigilantes and the hoodlums resulted in the death of the vigilante in the night of November 25, 2022.
Adejokun said that the vandals have targeted several projects of the NDPHC and killed or maimed contractors in the recorded attacks.
He said that the hoodlums vandalized the 330kV DC Afam – Onne Transmission Line in Gbake community of Ogoni, and cut down four Transmission Towers (T19, T20, T21 and T22) which they dismantled and them away.
He explained the line connecting Afam to Onne in Port Harcourt is the first 330kV Double Circuit Transmission supply line to the capital of Rivers State.
He stated that a team of vigilantes and security operatives foiled a third attempt by the vandals and arrested nine of them who have since been charged to court.
“The unrelenting attacks on power infrastructure by economic saboteurs leading to inability of Nigerians to access adequate electricity for economic growth and prosperity has continued unabated.
“In recent times, several projects being embarked upon by Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited have been attacked and contractors either killed or maimed by attackers.
“On September 3, 2022, some miscreants attacked and vandalized the 330kV DC Afam – Onne Transmission Line in Gbake community of Ogoniland, River State. The vandals cut down four Transmission Towers (T19, T20, T21 and T22), dismantled and carted them away.
“Again, on October 10, 2022, the vandals attacked and vandalized two additional towers on the same 330kV DC Afam – Onne Transmission Line. During a third attempt luck, however, ran out on them as efforts of vigilante members, buoyed by security operatives paid off, resulting in the arrest of nine of the miscreants. They have since been charged to court to face the full wrath of the law.
“During routine patrol in the night of November 25, 2022, vigilantes again encountered vandals along the same Afam-Onne 330kV DC Transmission Line. The vigilantes called for military reinforcement but before help came, one of the guards was shot and later died.
“Incidentally, this line connecting Afam to Onne in Port Harcourt is the first 330kV Double Circuit Transmission supply line to the capital of Rivers State.
“The persistent attacks on the line have caused substantial damage to the transmission line project and it will take huge sums of money to effect needed reconstruction and repairs in addition to resultant delays on delivery time.” He said
He quoted the Executive Director, Corporate Services at NDPHC, Nkechi Mba, as having commiserated with the deceased immediate and extended families.
Mba was said to have promised that the company will support the family in its moment of grief.
She appealed to members of the public to regard “public infrastructure as our commonwealth and strive to jointly always protect it.”
Mba expressed gratitude to law enforcement agents for their continuous support in trying to engage and deter economic criminals who vandalise NDPHC assets, saying the company “will ensure that anyone caught vandalizing our assets will be made to face severe legal sanctions.”