Rampant Vandalism: Over 80 Transfomers Looted and Damaged in Northern Nigeria
A devastating power outage has left its mark on northern Nigeria, with Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) reporting a staggering 80 transformers vandalized and stolen across its coverage areas. The extent of the destruction is most pronounced in Plateau State, where entire communities are now without a reliable electricity supply.
In a press conference, JED’s Chief Technical Officer, Eng. Hamisu Wakili Jigawa, spoke candidly about the crippling impact of the vandalism.
The attackers, Eng. Jigawa revealed, often removed vital components from the transformers, leaving behind empty husks. This has significantly disrupted the flow of electricity to affected areas, resulting in widespread power outages.
“The destruction is immense. Vandals have not only stolen critical components, but in some cases, they’ve taken everything – oil, coils, and more. This has left us with substantial losses, including damaged or destroyed transformers and cables,” Eng. Jigawa lamented.
To mitigate this crisis, JED is urging local communities to remain vigilant and take steps to protect their electrical infrastructure. Eng. Jigawa warned that the continued destruction of these critical assets would only lead to more power outages, further disrupting daily life for residents.
