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Criminals have vandalised eight concrete high-tension electricity poles and stolen cables and other electrical components along the Evekwu-Odegu axis of the East-West Road in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, disrupting power supply to parts of the area.
The incident was condemned by the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Sir Chidi Lloyd, PhD, during an inspection of the vandalised installations on Thursday.
The vandals reportedly brought down the eight high-tension poles and removed the cables, including the metal rods used in casting the concrete poles.
The attack has resulted in power outage in parts of the local government area, according to the council.
Lloyd also expressed concern over another reported incident in the Rumuodogo-Odegu area, where suspected vandals allegedly removed vital components of a transformer and other electricity installations.
Condemning the incidents, the council chairman urged community leaders across Emohua to take ownership of electricity installations and other public infrastructure within their communities and work with relevant authorities to protect them.
He said the repeated destruction of public infrastructure could not be successfully carried out by strangers without the knowledge or involvement of some indigenous residents.
Lloyd therefore called on residents to be vigilant and provide useful information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending those responsible for the vandalism.
He further disclosed that the local government would liaise with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) to develop measures to safeguard the high-tension line supplying electricity to the area from the Ahoada Transmission Station.
Officials of the council and representatives of PHED, led by the Council Secretary, Engr. Victor Benjamin, PhD, visited Rumuekpe on Thursday to assess the areas to be covered under the extension.
The latest vandalism has renewed concerns over the security of electricity infrastructure in communities across Emohua, with the council seeking stronger community involvement in protecting installations critical to power supply.
