The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has expressed worry over the rising cases of vandalization and destruction of its transformers and electricity equipment in Ekiti state.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Friday, the Senior Commercial Officer of BEDC in Ekiti, Brown Ilori explained that over 40 cases of transformer vandalization and destruction have been recorded by the company in the last six months across the state.
While describing the development as a setback to its services to the affected residents, called on the people and communities to step up their security surveillance in protecting the facilities in their domains for effective service delivery.
Ilori denied the insinuations that some staff members of the company were the masterminds of these infractions in the state, noting that,” it does not take any expertise to destroy these transformers.”
ALSO READ: Alleged diversion: NANS withdraws protest threat against NEMA
He revealed that a suspected vandal around Tinuola area of the state capital has been arrested and handed over to the state police command for proper investigation and ultimate prosecution.
According to him, “ Over 43 transformers have been vandalized across Ekiti.
The 43 transformers were vandalized in the last six months and when such cases became very rampant, we are pleading pleading for the communities where these transformers are cited to take ownership of the transformer.
We are calling on the people to safeguard those facilities because they are within their domain. We want to carry the people along to let them know that security is the collective responsibility of all.
Security is the business of everybody. It is true that we own the transformers but it provides light for the people.
If the people are passive about the security of the transformers, they are the ones who bear the brunt and be put in perpetual darkness if they allow hoodlums to vandalize the transformers.
We have held meetings with our staff and warned them that once it is outside the official hour; do not go to carry out any repairs at any transformers no matter the pressure until the following day.
These are the steps we are taking at our own end here.
But luckily for us, on Tuesday this week we caught one person in the Tinuola area of Ado Ekiti who is not a member of our staff. The matter has been reported to the police.
The Regional Head has just handed the suspect over to the police.”
On her part, the BEDC Regional Head, Ekiti, Mrs Moyo Akin-Afuye who reiterated the commitment of the company in discharging quality services to its customers in the state, called on the people to collaborate with the BEDC in protecting transformers and other equipment in the state.
Akin-Afuye disclosed that the company has procured and installed solar lamps and the construction of transparent perimeter fencing around the transformers as part of measures to ensure security of the electricity equipment.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE