Koton – A large Power grid has been vandalised and many communities have been thrown into darkness in Kogi state. Idrees Maikudi Aliyu, member representing Kofi Koton-Karfe in the state House of Assembly disclosed this in a motion of urgent public importance during the hallow chamber plenary on Tuesday in Lokoja, noting that the activities of the vandals have continued to cause pains and hardship on the people of his constituency. “The last three days have been harrowing experiences for the people of my Constituency. High tension cables by which electrical power is distributed to Edeha, Koton-Karfe down to Gegu and, all through my Constituency, the entirety of Kogi Koton-Karfe Local Government Area and a part of the Federal Capital Territory were wilfully damaged and cable lines of 3-phase power supply covering about 60 metres were carted away. The action of these unknown vandals thereby threw the entire constituency into darkness, an experience we never again had in view”. “We are concerned that the grave consequence of this wilful and dastardly act does not only end at the negative impact of darkness upon the lives of my constituents but at the detrimental effects on their socio-economic activities. “This concern is further heightened towards security breaches. The Murtala Muhammed Bridge is 1.76 km long and 20m wide with military checkpoints at both the Jamata and Edeha ends of the bridge. It is of security concern that such vandalization act of cutting, packing and carting away with the high-tension cables by the criminals could be accomplished without being noticed” he stated. He appealed to the Kogi State Government to intervene in rescuing the entire Local Government from darkness by effecting necessary repairs to restore the power supply. Aliyu called on the Transition Chairman of the Kogi Koton-Karfe Local Government Area to mobilize local security to ensure the continued protection of national assets. Supporting the motion, the members representing Yagba East State Constituency, Emmanuel Obaro and Ajaokuta Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin call for a thorough investigation. “We have to probe this alleged vandalization of 60 metres cables by these unknown vandals. It is not possible that 60 60-meter armoured cables will pass through two military checkpoints and no officer on duty could apprehend the criminals. “The security officers that are on duty when the light trip off should be court marshal. They all have questions to answer. While we are suspecting compromise by officers on duty, AEDC needs to questions their staff too”. In his ruling, the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf decried foul play in the incident. “If we can’t get solutions to those that get themselves involved in this criminal act, it means the security checkpoint in that area is not fit to be there. “It has come to our knowledge that this officer mounting check point in that area have agent who are not military officers, but are collecting money for them. The house is really worried by this incident. The Clerk should write to the appropriate authority for a thorough investigation on the incident “.
