Police Arrest Vandals Over PHED Installations

The Nigeria Police,
Rumukpakani, Port Harcourt in Obio/ Akpor Local  Government Area of Rivers State, have arrested two suspected vandals who  attempted to remove armored cables belonging to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company,[PHED] on one of its 500KVA transformers.
The arrest was made possible by the Vigilante group of Mini-Olu Community led by Mr.Gift Godwin, who accosted the vandals, stopped them from carrying away their loot before handing them over to the police.
The suspected vandals whose names were given as Emeka Romanus and Frank Okon have successfully removed 15 metres of 150mm2 x 4 core armoured cable, three drums of transforrner oil and bi-metal from the said 500kva transformer even when it was on circuit. But, luck ran out on them when the supply suddenly went off in a manner that raised the suspicion of the vigilante group who trooped to the transformer site and discovered that the outgoing cable had been vandalized.
Combing the area, the vigilante group saw the two suspected vandals with a  vehicle ready to take off.
In a statement ma available to The Tide, The Manager, Corporate  Communication, Mr Jonah Iboma, noted that the activities of the vandals has thrown  large part of Diobu Business Unit network into unnecessary darkness.
Iboma said, lately, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution(PHED) has lost thirty-four transformers to these acts, out of which ten were done along Ada George  Road and its environs.
In a related development, one Mr.Emeka who allegedly  parades himself as PHED staff member has been handed over to the same police station. The impostor has been  extorting money from unsuspecting customers around Rumuolumeni and Eliparawo axis by reconnecting them illegally.
The company got wind of his illegal activities, alerted the commnuinity,hence his  apprehension and subsequent arrest.
PHED has since its inception as privately owned company, repeatedly sensitised members of the public especially the electricity committees on the need to step up vigilance in their neighborhood by accosting any suspicious movement seen around PHED installations especially at the early hours of the day, usually between 12 midnight and 5.00am.
Simialry, about four weeks ago, community vigilante group from Egbelu, Ogbogoro prevented suspected vandals from carrying away drums of oil already drained from their transformer.
Iboma also commended the efforts of these community youths and hoped that the war against vandalism will be won when every community vigilante group keeps vigilance over PHED installations in their areas.

Chikwere Uzoigwe