Kaduna Electric petitions police over alleged attack on workers

Vandals destroy 13 towers along Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV transmission line

Kaduna Electric (KADEC) has petitioned the State Police Command over a man seen wielding dangerous weapons and assaulting its workers.The police in Rigasa Division have since arrested the middle-aged man seen in trending video footage.

Head of Communication, Kaduna Electric, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Abdullahi, in a statement yesterday, said the man, later identified as Inspector Aminu Yahaya Bidda, attached to the Tudun Wada police station in Kaduna metropolis, made several attempts at stabbing KADEC officials with a knife.

He said: “Kaduna Electric has formally reported the matter to the State Police Command via a petition to the Kaduna State Police Commissioner. In the petition, it prayed that Inspector Aminu Yahaya Bidda be arrested, investigated and charged to court for assault, attempted murder, harassment, and intimidation of staff.”

While seeking the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation, Kaduna Electric also urged the commissioner to intervene in the matter and ensure the protection of KADEC staff so that they can carry out official duties in the area without any form of hindrance.

Abdullahi stated that the police officer’s action was not only against the law but could also set dangerous precedents and threaten the fragile peace currently enjoyed in the state.

According to him, the action sharply contrasts with the law and police code of conduct. He explained that Bidda viciously attacked the company staff on lawful duty who were at his house at Rimaye Road, Hayin Danmani, for a routine inspection of his pre-paid meter.

Abdullahi added: “The employee was fortunate to have escaped unharmed. Unfortunately, a passerby who tried to intervene sustained injuries to the leg.”

MEANWHILE, 13 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kv double circuit transmission line have been vandalised. The Port Harcourt region of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), led by the General Manager of Transmission, Emmanuel Akpa, has visited the site near TCN’s Ahoada transmission substation to assess the situation.

The team confirmed that 13 towers, from T52 to T64, were affected by vandalism. Nine towers have collapsed completely, while four hang precariously and could collapse anytime.

Describing the incident as a national disaster, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Dr Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, urged the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to assist TCN in addressing the alarming vandalism of installations.
 
He noted that TCN recently responded to the vandalism and subsequent collapse of towers T97 to T99 on the same route on July 29, with work still ongoing to rebuild the vandalised towers.
 
According to him, a new contract was recently awarded for the reinforcement of towers 19-31 on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, where the tower members had been vandalized and stolen.

Despite these ongoing efforts, he said, the recent vandalism of the 13 towers presents a significant challenge to TCN.
 
”The 13 vandalised towers are located in several communities, including Okobe in Ahoada East, Emezhi 1 in Ahoada West, and Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Councils of Rivers State, as well as the Igbogene community in Bayelsa State.
 
“The Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kv Double Circuit Transmission line is crucial for evacuating power from the Ahoada Transmission Substation to the Yenagoa Substation, which supplies electricity to the entire Bayelsa State.
 
“Given the extent of the destruction to the towers and the ongoing work on previously vandalised transmission towers, it may take several months for TCN to complete the rebuilding and stringing of the towers to restore power supply to the state.

 “TCN once again appeals to security operatives, host communities, traditional rulers, state governments, and all stakeholders to collaborate with TCN in the fight against power installation vandalism. Urgent action is required,” he added.