Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has raised an alarm over the spate of vandalism within its network, saying the activities of vandals are beginning to cripple power distribution to its customers. 

A statement signed by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the distribution company, John Ayodele, said unknown civilians and armed men in police and civil defense uniforms on June 29, carted away IBEDC 33kV underground cables at Mokola Round-about in Ibadan, Oyo State. 

He said, “The stolen cables fed Agodi Injection Substation, where Government House, the State Secretariat, Agodi and majority of Bodija area and thousands of other urban customers are serviced. This means the economic power and livelihood of these people have been grossly disrupted, as we are incapacitated by the stolen cables to meet the supply demand. And this is just one of the various instances of the nefarious activities of vandals within our franchise.”

Ayodele disclosed that IBEDC loses over N50 million every month to vandals through stolen cables, damaged transformers, and other network infrastructure. 

He then appealed to the customers to jealously guard electrical installations within their environments to avoid being plunged into unexpected darkness, stating that the company cannot afford to replace any vandalized installations for now.

“We implore all residents and customers to report any act suspected to be vandalism to the nearest Police Station, Civil Defence and the Department of State Service (DSS). IBEDC does not operate late nights and all activities that occur after 8pmshould be suspected and reported accordingly”, he said.