The management of Ossiomo Power Company has again raised the alarm over the alleged continued vandalism of its facilities in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
BusinessDay recalls that the company had on several occasions alleged the destruction of its facilities in the locality, with the management putting the value of the damaged and stolen equipment at several hundreds of millions of naira.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City, the management accused youths in the community of being behind the alleged criminal acts.
The company alleged that some youths working for a certain Chinese company trespassed into the private premises of Ossiomo Power Company, where they vandalised and stole equipment from its 33kV electricity lines.
‘The electricity equipment either vandalised or stolen included expensive high-tension wires, cables and conductors worth several millions of naira,’ the company said.
The company alleged that Felix Okotie Otemowo, described as the leader of the gang, claimed when accosted by mobile policemen on guard duty at the power plant that he and his cohorts were acting at the behest of some highly placed individuals, including the Chinese firm and some community leaders.
‘We are also accusing the Edo State Government of giving backing to the Chinese firm and its alleged accomplices to destroy our facilities as well as to continue to occupy our premises,’ the statement alleged.
The statement, however, said the activities of the Chinese firm and the youth of the community were undermining and sabotaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to providing reliable electricity to Nigerians.
It explained that both the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Edo State High Court, Benin City, had earlier restrained CCETC and those accused of carrying out the destruction on behalf of the Chinese firm from entering the premises of Ossiomo Power Company.
‘The criminal behaviours of the accused are clear breaches of the orders of both the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Edo State High Court, Benin City.
‘It is also on record that suspects have on several occasions been invited by the police to answer for a number of criminal charges but they have refused to honour the police invitations,’ the management stated.
The company called on the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force to stop treating the alleged unlawful activities of the accused persons as if they were untouchable, alleging that the seeming inaction of the police had emboldened them to continue behaving like ‘sacred cows.’
It also called for the urgent intervention of Governor Monday Okpebholo to prevail on the community and the Chinese firm to stop the alleged vandalism of its property.
‘Ossiomo Power Company, which is legally established, should be left alone to reconnect its 33kV lines to enable it to resume the supply of electricity to millions of people in Edo State,’ the company said.
It would be recalled that Paul Usenbo, Edo State commissioner for Power, had in an interview with newsmen expressed concern over the inability of the Ossiomo power plant to provide electricity to millions of residents in the state.
‘Every megawatt that is unavailable has an economic consequence.The Government’s position is clear, we want the dispute resolved, the investment protected and electricity restored to consumers, but this must be achieved in accordance with the law.
‘The State Government will continue to facilitate structured negotiations between the parties, without taking sides in a private commercial dispute.
‘The security of critical electricity infrastructure must be guaranteed. No community, individual or private interest should be allowed to vandalise or unlawfully take control of power infrastructure,’ it stated.