Kaduna Electric, the electricity distribution company, has voiced its deep concern about the growing number of cases of vandalism of electrical installations within its franchise area.
Engr. Lawal Aliyu Mashi, the Chief Technical Officer of Kaduna Electric, expressed his worry and revealed some alarming statistics in a statement on Wednesday.
He stated, “Between July and September of this year, there were approximately 172 reported cases of vandalism across the four franchise states, resulting in a loss of N138,056,343 worth of equipment during that period.”
Several incidents were highlighted in the statement. At the Abakpa Injection Substation in Kaduna, approximately 42 meters of earthing cable were vandalized. In Katuru Village, Badarawa, Kaduna, four meters of 500MM2 neutral incomer cables were stolen.
He further explained that due to payment default by a community, they were disconnected from the power supply.
This led to the vandalism of numerous electrical components, including 174 spans of aluminum cables, 22 HT poles, 20 upriver cables, 34 cross arms, 142 channel irons, and one set of feeder pillar units.
In Gusau, Zamfara State, 12 spans of 150mm aluminum conductor were vandalized, and the 300KVA FECT 2 substation suffered from vandalism, with a 300mm2 single-core cable stolen.
To combat the increasing spate of vandalism within its franchise area, Kaduna Electric stated that it has intensified its collaborations with various security agencies, including the military, police, and civil defense corps.
Their goal is to apprehend and prosecute the suspects involved in these acts.
The Chief Security Officer of Kaduna Electric, Col. Ubale Abubakar (rtd), emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the negative impact of vandalism on the company’s operations.
He urged the public to promptly report any suspicious activities around electrical infrastructure to Kaduna Electric offices or security agencies.
