Jos Electricity Distribution Plc: don’t do it again!

Sir: I must begin by quickly applauding Daily Trust, This Day, Sunday Sun, The Guardian and other print media not mentioned here but have assisted the people of Akpehe community in Makurdi, for publishing an article with regards to the injustice against them by Jos Electricity Distribution Plc. I wish to confirm that the larger part of Akpehe community that was living in total darkness is now having power supply and these newspapers have contributed to ensuring that there is power supply in the area by publishing and letting the concerned authorities know how some officials of JED Plc, Makurdi Business Unity, wanted to steal and exploit the community in question.

When some members of Akpehe community came to seek for my opinion on what they should do concerning the action of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc against the residents of their community, with regards to the stealing of a component part of the transformer that supplies electricity to them, I sought to know who was having the keys to the fenced transformer in question and they told me, officials of JED Plc, Makurdi Business Unity. Thereafter, I pleaded with them to give me only two weeks that they would definitely get electricity in their area because I knew that the media is powerful and if cases of injustice are captured in the media, there must be a positive response from the concerned authorities. They were not convinced but decided to wait for the two weeks to come.

I quickly mobilised some youths and gave them roles to play in investigating to know those responsible for the stealing of what was missing from the transformer in question. After the investigation, it was very obvious that the same officials of JED Plc, who were and still in possession of the keys to the fenced transformer, stole what was said to be missing from the transformer. The same persons having the keys to the fenced transformer were the same persons that alerted and informed the community that something had been stolen from the transformer and there was no sign of somebody breaking into the fenced transformer. The door of the transformer was conveniently opened and something was also conveniently removed from it and the people in possession of the keys denied knowing nothing about it. How possible could that be?

I did a write up together with some patriotic citizens, sent to Daily Trust, Sunday Sun, This Day, The Guardian and the rest, accused the officials of JED in possession of the keys for trying to swindle and get money from people illegally. JED Plc, Makurdi Business Unit was demanding for N300,000 to buy what was stolen from the transformer, having known very well that it was her members that stole it.

Let me at this point warn the officials of JED Plc, Makurdi Business Unit, not to attempt cheating people again and let me also assure them of a legal battle against them in case of the repetition of this ugly incident in future.

Awunah Pius Terwase,
Makurdi, Benue State.