Residents of Umueledi in Old Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday took to the street to protest outrageous estimated electricity bills slammed on the community by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.

The protesters who carried a coffin with an inscription “EEDC rest in peace” chanted war songs and marched around Afo Ibeji Market in Old Umuahia.

The leader of protesters, Chief Amaechi Stanley, said EEDC had subjected the residents of the community to untold economic hardship through exorbitant electricity bills.

He said, “EEDC now advances an estimated bill of N36,000 to each household every month contrary to N4000 being paid before.

“The burden had become unbearable for the locals, hence their decision to cry out for external intervention.

“We have been complaining to EEDC concerning the outrageous billing but our complaints fell on deaf ears.

“We have even gone to the police and the Department of State Services but EDDC was asked to go and settle with us.