Kano DISCO to clampdown on vandals, energy thieves

WORRIED by increasing attacks on the facilities of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) by suspected vandals and saboteurs, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, has said the company would intensify efforts to arrest vandals of its equipment.

Gwamna, who disclosed this following fresh reports of arrests, vandalism and theft of various electricity apparatus belonging to the company in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, emphasised that, “we will no longer tolerate any act of sabotage to our company’s smooth operations. This is without doubt a calculated attempt to frustrate our organisation from meeting the electricity demands of our customers.”

The KEDCO boss also warned that the company will not hesitate to prosecute impersonators, adding that, “anyone caught stealing our overhead cables or draining the transformer oil, or engaging in illegal connection and disconnection of customers, or vandalising any of our equipment will be made to face the wrath of the law.”

He, however, commended residents of Danbatta, Kunya and Chaichai whose efforts and commitments to fighting vandalism have led to several arrests in the aforementioned areas, stressing that electricity consumers should see power installations as their personal property.

A press release by the Communications Coordinator, KEDCO, Mr. Mohammed Kandi, said Dr. Gwamna disclosed that, “Two suspects have been arrested and sued in connection with stealing of 33KV aluminium conductors (wire) from our Kazaure/Danbatta feeder in Danbatta town last week.”

“Similarly, two other people were also arrested and are now being prosecuted for allegedly conspiring to vandalise and steal 320 meters of 33KV aluminium conductors, five disc insulators, three pot insulators and three cross arms in Kunya town (Bagauda feeder),” the MD explained.