Days after installing transformers, suspected vandals cart away cables worth N4m

Suspected cable thieves operating within Owa-Nta Aliosimi community in Ika North East Local Council of Delta State have allegedly vandalized the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)’s transformers and carted away valuables worth N4 million.

A community leader, who confirmed the development to The Guardian, Mr. Edward Patrick, said the thieves invaded the areas – Edwin Patrick, Ikechukwu and Phillip Agidi Street, around Power Line – last week after the transformers were newly installed.

He called on the state government and security agencies to come to their rescue as the community has since been left in darkness. According to Mr. Edwin Patrick, who lamented that the development has disrupted residents’ access to electricity and potable water, the thieves allegedly vandalized the transformers with the help of some persons believe to be BEDC workers.

He alleged that some officials of the distribution company had demanded some gratification from the residents, though they refused, before the transformers were installed. “We were shocked to wake up last Thursday to see the vandalisation of our newly installed transformers. Light went off suddenly on Wednesday night, but it was on Thursday morning we discovered that the cable wires of the transformers were removed. We don’t know those who did this, but it happened after some BEDC workers asked for gratification before the transformers were installed,” he said.

Investigation revealed that the transformers vandals jumped over the fence to the site, as the keys to the entrance were handed over to some landlords in the area immediately the transformers were installed.

But in a swift reaction, BEDC image-maker, Mrs. Easter Okolie, dispelled as untrue the rumour making the rounds that BEDC workers allegedly removed the valuables of the transformers, adding that investigation was already ongoing to ascertain the culprits.