Ebonyi Youths vandalize electricity compay

vehicles over seven-month power outage

Youths in Afikpo town of Afikpo North Local Government

Area of Ebonyi State during a protest, have allegedly

vandalized three vehicles belonging to the Enugu Electricity

Distribution Company (EEDC) and barricaded the entry and

exit points into the town.

Public institutions including banks and markets were also

shut down following the protest, which halted human and

automobile movements in the area.

Reports say the youths were protesting alleged lack of

supply of electricity to the town for over seven months.

The Rector, Akanu Ibiam, Federal Poly, Uwanna, Ogbonnia

Ibe-Enwo, Senator Azu Agboti, other prominent persons in

the town including travelers, were turned back from

reaching their destinations by the rampaging youth who

chanted war songs during the protest.

The state Police Spokesperson, Chris Anyanwu, who

confirmed the incident, condemned the vandalism by the

youth.

One Egwu Idam, a resident of the area according to reports,

revealed that the youth had surrounded the office of the

distribution company as early as 7 am today and dismissed

the staff.

He said in the process, three vehicles of the company were

destroyed.

Speaking further, Idam said, “We haven’t had light for over

seven months and we have been paying for light we don’t

consume. We have been telling the power people to stop

bringing us bill every month since they don’t give us light but

to no avail.”

One of the protesters said, “Today, we have decided to say

no to all these rubbish. We want the right thing to be done

now. It is either they give us light or they stop bringing bill to

us because we cannot continue to pay for what we don’t

consume.”

Mr. Anyanwu, a deputy superintendent of police, said the

Afikpo Police Area Commander and his team have been

directed to calm the situation.