Blackout: Hoodlums vandalise transformers, steal cables in Jos

Hoodlums have taken advantage of the lingering power outage to vandalise electrical installations and steal electric cables in Anguwan and Gangare communities in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The outage began on Monday, following the tripping of 330KV circuit transmission lines between Benue and Enugu states, a development that has affected most northern states including Plateau State.

Residents of the two communities told Daily Trust that the hoodlums used the opportunity of the blackout to steal electrical wires on Thursday and Friday nights.

Muhammad Munir, a resident of Gangare community, told Daily Trust that hoodlums succeeded in vandalising the transformer of his community and stole valuable devices.

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He said, “They vandalised the transformer in the midnight and stole some items that would require huge amount of money to replace.”

Alhaji Bala Tanko, a community leader in Anguwan Rogo, told our correspondent that the hoodlums invaded the transformer around 10 p.m. while many people were asleep.

“It is quite unfortunate that some unscrupulous people took advantage of this situation to steal the wires.

“They came in the night while residents were asleep. They had already started vandalising the transformer and removed some wires. Luckily for us, some residents of the community heard their movement and quickly arrived.

“Unfortunately, before their arrival, the hoodlums fled, abandoning their tools.
If not for the blackout, they wouldn’t have come to remove the wires. These people are adding more insult to injury. We have been in darkness for more than six days and they don’t even care about the difficult situation we are in now. It is very unfortunate, “ Tanko said.

He called on residents of the area to be vigilant to prevent further vandalisation of the transformer.