Kogi communities in darkness as vandals cart away electricity cables

By Richard Elesho/Kogi

Some criminal elements have destroyed a sizable length of newly re-installed electrical cables supplying electricity to two communities in Amuro district of MopAmuro Local Government Area, LGA, Kogi State.

The cables were cut at a point close to the desolate Niger River Basin office at Agbab’ere on the Effo/ Takete Ide road.

The saboteurs who used the cover of darkness to carry out their dastardly act on Wednesday night effectively cut off Takete Ide and Aiyede from electricity supply.

Their heinous crime became known on Thursday morning when curious passersby noticed vandalised cables dangling loosely from electrical poles.

They immediately raised alarm over the matter, and the people mobilized to comb the forest where some of the cables were recovered. They promptly reported the discovery to the law enforcement agencies in the area and lodged further complaints at Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, offices in Kabba and Mopa.

The crime has created anger and frustration in the affected communities, with many people raining curses on those behind the crime. It was gathered that after decades of being cut off from the national grid, concerned indigenes of the area facilitated reconnection about three months ago.

A senior staff of AEDC zonal office in Kabba regretted the action of the criminals. He noted that vandalism was becoming rampant, disclosing that some suspects of vandalism were apprehended on Tuesday with the aid of police in Kabba.

The Baale of Amuro land, Chief Eric Fiki and other community leaders condemned the action and warned criminals to stay off the area else they risk the anger of the ancestors and deities.

Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, frowned at the discovery and reiterated the government resolution to protect public infrastructure. He vowed that the government would not treat economic saboteurs with kid gloves.