EKEDC jails 3 vandals, warns others
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of three thieving bandits for vandalizing power distribution facilities.
The company which has been in eternal battle to secure it assets from vandals and thieves stated that police have also made additional arrests in the campaign against equipment vandals.
Spokesman of the company, Mr Bavatunde Lasaki, has consistently called on the public to desist from the unlawful activities of vandalizing and stealing electricity cables and other critical infrastructure.
The acts, he said, disrupt power supply to homes, businesses, and industries; causing widespread power outages and financial losses to the company and its customers.
Mr Lasaki who is General Manager in charge of Corporate Communications at EKEDC issued the warning in reaction to the detention, arraignment, and sentencing of three individuals now cooling off at various facilities of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) for vandalism and theft of the Company’s equipment.
“We commend our communities, law enforcement agencies and residential associations for coming together on this journey of safeguarding public equipment and electricity infrastructure around them.
“Justice would not have prevailed if not for the intervention of these partners and critical stakeholders in apprehending these people going around to deny our customers their rights to power supply for their self-gain.
“We will continue to collaborate with our partners and community groups to ensure this menace comes to a halt,” Lasaki declared.
Lasaki gave the names of the three vandals as Fawas Eletu, Sunday Joseph and Isah Haruna, who he said were sentenced to six months, two years and three months jail terms respectively.
They were jailed for vandalism and theft of EKEDC cables.
According to the statement, Eletu was apprehended in an attempt to cart away three meters of 500mm cable in the Awoyaya area of Ibeju; Joseph was arrested in Onikan, Lagos Island: while Haruna was apprehended in Lekki area of Lagos.
“Vandalism sets our organization back in our efforts towards providing a safe, reliable and uninterrupted power supply to our customers.
“Instead of investing in new equipment to expand our services, we are compelled to replace pilfered ones.
“It also makes our customers face unnecessary outages and we need to end that with the support of our customers. I also hope that this will deter other intending vandals as we will ensure that they face the full extent of the law.” Lasaki noted.
He warned that attempts to vandalize or steal electrical infrastructure are hazardous and can lead to electrocution or death.
He also stated that customers can report suspected vandalism activities to the company through its whistleblowing phone line, email or social media platforms.
