Attack on EEDC staff stalls power reconnection to Eha-Amu, Ikem, Orba
The delay in reconnecting power supply to Eha-Amufu, Ikem, Obolo-Afo, Orba and Enugu Ezika has been attributed to the insecurity and attack on staff of Enugu Electrical Distribution Company (EEDC).
The electricity company said in a statement that a fault in Eha-Amufu had left the communities in black-out which was yet to be cleared before the attack.
The statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh stated that the fault was yet to be cleared as a result of insecurity and attack on its staff in charge of the areas by the residents they serve.
It was gathered that EEDC staff going about their lawful duty were attacked and assaulted by over 300 youths of Eha-Amufu community on the June 8, 2017.
The mob were said to have destroyed equipment, furniture, as well as other work tools at the EEDC Service Center in Eha-Amufu.
Ezeh said: “As a business, we value our staff, and their safety is our greatest concern. In this case, the environment is no longer safe for our men to move in and clear the fault.
“It is important to note that prior to this incident, Eha-Amufu community enjoyed good supply, as they are fortunate to be situated at the source of supply, which radiates from Nkalagu.
Due to this unfortunate incident, other communities feeding from the same line have been out of supply”.
Ezeh however said that conscious effort is being made to restore power to the affected customers. He observed that series of meeting were had between representatives of EEDC, Isi-Uzo Local Government Chairman, Benjamin Edeoga, some selected traditional rulers, the President General, as well as other critical stakeholders of the communities.
This according to him is to demonstrate the company’s resolve to reconnect its customers.
“At the meeting, some demands, were made by EEDC which included: an undertaking by the community, assuring and guaranteeing EEDC of the safety of its personnel to enable them move in and clear the fault; replacement of all the destroyed equipment and providing the youths that perpetrated the act.
Continuing Ezeh said: “We are not happy about this development; we are in business and have lost millions of Naira as a result of this incident. We are committed to providing service to our customers and expect them to pay for service rendered. If for any reason customers are aggrieved, there are established channels for them to channel their grievances. There is no justification for this gruesome act, and we condemn it in its totality.”
He however expected that the issue will soon be resolved and supply restored to all the affected communities.