Three suspected vandals have been arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State for their involvement in vandalizing high tension cables and insulators belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC), along Enugu-Port Harcourt Express way.
The suspects, Njoku Onyeka, Anayochi Onuigbo and Sunday Ude, were slammed with a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, unlawful damage and removal of about four rolls of high tension wires, unlawful removal of three insulators from electricity poles and unlawful meddling with about four rolls of electricity high tension cables and insulators.
The offences are punishable under Section 1(9) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, after taking a not guilty plea, equally they were granted bail in the sum of 2 million Naira each and 2 sureties in like sum, while the matter was adjourned to 14th October, 2021.
In a related development, the Head of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh has confirmed the arrest of other suspected vandals.
He disclosed that in response to the continuous plea by EEDC for stakeholder support in apprehending vandals who attack electricity installations across the network, members of the Olumba Electricity Committee apprehended a suspected vandal identified as John Nwabugo.
The indigene of Umuahia, Abia State, was nabbed for vandalizing a 33KVA distribution substation situated around Faulks Road, Aba.
Following investigation, Tochukwu Ubabuka who was named as one of the receivers of the vandalized items was arrested.
Similarly, at Nachi, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, a vandal suspect identified as Ekene Nnadi, a native of Nsukka was arrested by the Vigilante team in the community for vandalizing St. Mary’s Distribution Substation located at Ugbueze, Nachi.
Nnadi was arrested in an uncompleted building within the locality along with the vandalized items and his tools which include, spanners, saw and some cables.
Also, two suspected vandals, identified as, Nwaorie Sampson and Ekeoma Onyema, both from Ebonyi State were arrested by Umucheke Community Vigilante group for vandalizing three transformers and eight high tension poles located at Umu Ogbomu in Isiekenesi Community of Ideato South Local Government Area, Imo State.
Items recovered from the suspects include, 90 meters of 95mm, 4 copper upriser, 8Nos feeder pillar unit, 6No copper bar, 30meters of 10mm aluminum cable.
“All arrested suspects have been handed over to the respective Police Division in those areas, along with the items recovered from them, for proper investigation and possible prosecution,” Ezeh said.
He commended the efforts of the various vigilante groups, as well as members of the Electricity Committee in apprehending the vandals “that have sworn to always inflict untold hardship on innocent citizens, depriving them of quality supply and comfort.”
“This is a clear indication that all our cry to our stakeholders for support and collaboration in ensuring that these installations located within their immediate environments are protected from these undesirable elements, is yielding the desired result”, Ezeh said.
He encouraged customers not to relent but see themselves as critical stakeholders and partners committed to ensuring that EEDC’s efforts in providing quality and reliable service was actualized and sustained.
