The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc. has raised concern on the high rate of vandalism of its facilities across its operational areas.
The Chief Operating Officer of IBEDC, John Ayodele, spoke in a statement made available to journalists, on Thursday, in Ibadan.
The statement read that the activities of vandals had led households, businesses, and communities into darkness and cost the company revenue losses worth millions of naira.
“These vandals mostly target transformers and up-riser cables worth millions of naira,” it stated.
It further stressed that the repeated restoration of electricity installations is unprofitable and counterproductive to the business.
The statement read that “The vandalism of the company’s assets is becoming alarming and is depriving legitimate customers of their right to steady power supply. From January to April, more than 38 transformers have been vandalised amounting to 1154.9 Mwh undelivered energy.
“For instance, in Olulana community under Ijeun business hub, the 300 KVA transformer has been vandalised several times. Also, in Ogun State, Victory 500 KVA transformer in Mowe community was vandalised on different occasions.
“The transformers at Iragbbiji and Orororowu communities, under Ikirun business hub in Osun State, were dismantled by vandals, leaving the people in total darkness for months.
“Vandals carted away cables of a 330KVA and a 500 KVA transformers at Surulere and Kuponniyi substations at Oyo State.”
It urged community leaders, youth associations and security agencies to work with IBEDC in the protection of electrical installations within their communities.
The statement suggested that vigilante groups and other stakeholders should report acts of vandalism in their communities promptly in an effort to track and prosecute the vandals, adding, “It is no longer business as usual. Anyone caught will have his or her day in court.
“Though no IBEDC staff has been found culpable in cases of vandalism, however, management will not hesitate to prosecute any staff that is found guilty.”
