Felix Otaru, Lokoja
The vandalization of Koton-Karfe Power grid by suspected vandals have thrown many communities into darkness in Kogi State and some parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Member representing Kogi-Konton-Karfe in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Idrees Maikudi Aliyu stated this in a motion of urgent public importance during plenary in Lokoja.
He noted that the activities of the vandals has caused serious pains and hardship on the people of his constituency.
“The last three days has been extremely painful experiences to the people of my Constituency. High tension cables by which electrical power is distributed to Edeha, Koton-Karfe down to Gegu and, and all through my Constituency, the entirety of Kogi-Koton-Karfe Local Government Area and a part of the Federal Capital Territory was wilfully damaged and cable lines of 3-phase power supply covering about 60 metres were carted away. The action of this unknown vandals thereby throwing the entire constituency into darkness, an experience we never again had in view.
” We are concerned that the grave consequence of this wilful and dastardly act does not only end at the negative impact of darkness upon the lives of my constituents but at the detrimental effects on their socio-economic activities.
” This concern is further heightened towards security breach. The Murtala Muhammed Bridge is 1.76 km long and 20m wide with military checkpoints at both the Jamata and Edeha ends of the bridge. It is of security concern that such vandalization act of cutting, packing and carting away with the high-tension cables by the criminals could be accomplished without being noticed” he stated.
He appealed to the Kogi State Government to intervene in rescuing the entire Local Government from darkness by effecting necessary repairs to restore power supply.
Hon. Aliyu equally called on the Transition Chairman of Kogi-Koton-Karfe Local Government Area to mobilize local security to ensure continued protection of national assets.
Supporting the motion, members representing Yagba East State Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Obaro and Ajaokuta, Hon. Jibril Abu both called for thorough investigation on the incident.
“We have to probe this alleged vandalization of 60 metres cables by this unknown vandals. It is not possible that 60 meters armoured cable will pass through two military check points and no officer on duty could apprehend the criminals.
“The security officers that are on duty when the light tripped off should be court marshalled. They all have questions to answer. While we are suspecting compromise by officers on duty, AEDC needs to questions their staff too”.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the house Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf decried foul play on the incident. “If we can’t get solutions to those that got themselves involved in this criminal act, it means the security check point in that area are not fit to be there.
” It has come to our knowledge that this officers mounting check point in that area have agent who are not military officers, but are collecting money for them. The house is really worried by this incident” he noted.
The Speaker thereafter directed that the Clerk writes to the appropriate military authority as well as the AEDC inviting them for the purpose of clarity regarding the subject matter.
