Vandalism Plunges Abakaliki Metropolis Into Darkness

The Abakaliki metropolis has been thrown into darkness following the vandalism of the Udemezue 11KV feeder, causing a significant power outage. The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) revealed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh.

The incident occurred in the early hours of the day, with EEDC’s fault patrol team discovering the damage around 2:40 am. According to the report, the vandals made away with 16 meters of a 150mm² x 3-core armored underground cable, leaving more than 70 public and private transformers out of operation.

Affected areas include Oroko-Onuoha, Udensi, Kpirikpiri, Ogbaga Road, New Layout, Udemezue, Low-Cost Housing Estate, Hilltop Road, Amikaba, Siren Hotel, Man City Hotel, Muchels Hotel, De Pablo Hotel, Unity FM Radio Station, and their environs.

In his statement, Ezeh expressed regret over the incident and reassured residents that efforts to restore power were already in progress. “We sincerely regret this unprecedented development and appeal to our customers for patience and understanding. Power supply will be restored as soon as the stolen or damaged equipment is replaced,” he stated.

EEDC reaffirmed its commitment to providing reliable electricity services despite the growing challenge of vandalism. The company also urged customers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity around power infrastructure to help prevent such acts in the future.

This incident underscores the persistent issue of vandalism targeting public infrastructure, which continues to disrupt essential services across the country. The company’s appeal for community cooperation highlights the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding critical utilities.