Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited yesterday disclosed that vandals have destroyed six electricity transmission towers connecting Afam to Onne in Rivers State, leaving one of the vigilantes guarding the lines dead.
A statement by Mr. Adesanya Adejokun, Media Adviser to NDPHC Managing Director, in Abuja explained that the vandalised line connecting Afam to Onne in Port Harcourt is the first 330kV Double Circuit Transmission supply line to the capital of Rivers State.
The company noted that in recent times, several of its projects have been attacked and contractors either killed or maimed by attackers.
However, investigation on power supplied to the national grid showed that the destruction of the towers had little effect with 22 companies producing 4,466.50 Megawatts of electricity as 2.00pm.
The lead producers were Egbin Power (534MW), Kainji Hydro (502MW) and Jebba Hydro (457MW).
According to Adejokun, “On September 3, 2022, some miscreants attacked and vandalized the 330kV DC Afam – Onne Transmission Line in Gbake community of Ogoniland, River State. The vandals cut down four Transmission Towers (T19, T20, T21 and T22), dismantled and carted them away.
“Again, on October 10, 2022, the vandals attacked and vandalized two additional towers on the same 330kV DC Afam - Onne Transmission Line. During a third attempt luck, however, ran out on them as efforts of vigilante members, buoyed by security operatives paid off, resulting in the arrest of nine of the miscreants. They have since been charged to court to face the full wrath of the law.
“During routine patrol in the night of November 25, 2022, vigilantes again encountered vandals along the same Afam-Onne 330kV DC Transmission Line. The vigilantes called for military reinforcement but before help came, one of the guards was shot and later died.
Incidentally, this line connecting Afam to Onne in Port Harcourt is the first 330kV Double Circuit Transmission supply line to the capital of Rivers State”.
He added that the persistent attacks on the line have caused substantial damage to the transmission line project and will take huge sums of money to effect needed reconstruction and repairs in addition to resultant delays on delivery time.
Executive Director, Corporate Services at NDPHC, Nkechi Mba has however, commiserated with the deceased immediate and extended families, promising that the company will support them in this their moment of grief.
“The company is grateful for his gallantry in the line of duty and we hereby pledge support for his family in this moment of great sorrow”, she stated while declaring “We will be relentless in hunting these vandals down, particularly those who assassinated the young man.”
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