10 electricity vandals electrocuted, eight others face prosecution

No fewer than 10 persons suspected to be electricity installation vandals have been electrocuted within the jurisdiction of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company since January 2014, an official said.
Collins Chabuka, the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of AEDC, who made the disclosure, also said eight suspected vandals arrested within the period were facing trial in various courts.
Chabuka made the facts known at a health, safety and environment sensitisation campaign in Lafia on Thursday.
He said the campaign became necessary because of the high level of fatalities recorded in the zone.
He said the AEDC was concerned about its customers’ welfare and would continue to enlighten and interact with them to guarantee their safety.
He appealed to the people of Nasarawa State not to build houses under high tension cables to avoid deaths and other disasters that could arise from such acts.
He advised the people to desist from patronising unlicensed electricians, saying that AEDC would not take responsibility for disasters caused by consumers’ illegal actions.
Chabuka said the company had raised the tempo of its public awareness campaign on the safe use of electricity by consumers in its franchise area, namely the Federal Capital Territory and Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States.
He said: “We take it as our prime responsibility to ensure that we educate all customers and stakeholders on the safe handling of electricity because if electricity is not handled properly, it can cause injury or even death.”
He said the AEDC was proactive to avoid injuries or deaths from electrocution, especially during illegal practices by electricity users.
Chabuka said the company was determined to drastically reduce the rate of accidents in the electricity supply industry.
He, however, pointed out that vandalism on electricity installations attracted penalties and advised people to avoid vandalism, encroachment on installations and tampering with such installations.
Chabuka said the company had embarked on the fencing of its installations as part of measures to protect them.
He also said that the company was working in collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to curb the menace of vandalism of its installations.
Chabuka, who also visited the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai I, said the company had very high regard for the safety of its customers and the safe use of its product.
The Emir, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai I, thanked the company for the slight improvement in power supply and urged it to do more for the people.
Agwai assured the company of the emirate’s commitment to the safety of the company’s staff and installations.
As part of the campaign, the company embarked on road shows along major streets in Lafia and distributed pamphlets and fliers on how to handle electrical installations.
NAN.