Blackout in Delta community: Why we can’t reopen service now —BEDC

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE WARRI—THE Warri Business District of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, has said it was unwise to reopen its services in Aladja community, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, without assurance for the safety of its men and equipment following residents’ protest last week against epileptic power supply and outrageous bills. Gbiwen Edmund, Corporate Affairs Officer to the Warri District of BEDC, said this yesterday, while reacting to complains by the edgy Aladja residents, who see the current total blackout in the community as a punitive action by BEDC over the protest last week Wednesday. Denying the allegation, Gbiwen said the action by residents endangered the lives of his personnel who he said were taken unawares by the action. He said: “The real issue which most residents and their leaders were aware of was that of a weak and overloaded transformer. The wisest option was to do load shedding in the absence of immediate replacement, to prevent it from packing up. “We have a customer complaints office, but without any formal complaints, some angry persons invaded our Aladja office with dangerous weapons. They destroyed office appliances and documents. Members of staff were robbed, threatened and chased out, making the reopening the office a risky decision.”