A vigilant neighbourhood watch in Aba, Abia State, has successfully thwarted an attempt to sabotage local power supplies, apprehending a 20-year-old man, Uchenna Iroha, in the process.
Iroha, hailing from the Ohuhu community in Umuahia, was caught red-handed attempting to pilfer a 500kva distribution transformer on Ngwa Road, close to the Old Court.
Mr. Ken Agu, Chief Security Officer at Geometric Power, revealed that the sharp-eyed security team had been keeping tabs on Iroha, who is suspected of involvement in earlier incidents of vandalism.
“The Divisional Police Office of the Nigeria Police Force at Ndiegoro in Aba is thorough and we expect its men to do a good job,” Mr. Agu stated in a press release issued on Friday by Edise Ekong, Aba Power’s Brand and Communications Manager.
The statement confirmed that investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether Iroha acted alone or was part of a larger network of vandals.
Aba Power’s communications manager expressed gratitude to the local community where the 500kva transformer is situated for their increased vigilance, particularly after two previous acts of vandalism in recent months.
Ms. Ekong pointed out that each instance of theft plunged local residents, businesses, and households into darkness for several days, causing significant disruption until the equipment could be repaired, often at considerable expense.
“It is terrible to mess up the businesses and lives of people here by a handful of miscreants who sell the transformer copper wires and other electrical accessories to unconscionable electrical parts dealers and metal scavengers as scraps,” Mr. Agu commented.
“We are delighted that as the power supply to Aba and the environs improves drastically and Aba Power earns the confidence of the people more and more, the people will continue to play their role as stakeholders in the electricity value chain and protect all the infrastructure in their areas with more commitment,” he added.
