Osun community laments three-month blackout

Residents of Akiriboto in Gbongan town in the Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State are seeking intervention to restore power supply in the area following a three-month blackout caused by vandalism and theft of electricity installation.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the blackout had forced residents in the area to abandon poultry farming, which the community was known for, as a result of a midnight robbery and also high cases of theft of motorcycles in the area.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on the telephone on Monday, a poultry farmer, Mukaila Mutairu, called on the government and the power distribution company to accede to the community’s demand of restoring power supply in the area.

He said, “The blackout has led to a spike in the rates of crime in the village. The people in the community are known for poultry farming. However, the blackout has made farmers to lose great numbers of their poultry. Unknown people keep using the blackout to steal poultry in the community. If we had electricity, these robberies would not be as rampant as this.

“The first time the light had a fault, the community contributed N50,000 for repair. However, immediately after they repaired it, around 2am of the following day, we woke up to a loud sound around where the transformer was located. When checked, we were told that some cables had been stolen. That was the last time the community had a power supply.”

Another resident, a motorcyclist, who identified himself as Aderoju told PUNCH Metro that the lack of electricity in the area had led to more cases of midnight robbery.

“They dispossess motorcyclists of their motorcycles. This has become very usual in the community. We are begging the government and the power distribution company to come to our aid,” he said.

Speaking, an aged petty trader identified as Mrs Victoria Oloyede, said residents of the community travelled as far as Gbongan to get access to cold drinks.

Reacting, the spokesperson for the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Busola Tunwase, urged the community to take the protection of their electrical installation seriously and report any case of vandals.

 “We take the issue of vandalism seriously. They should report the case to the IBEDC or the nearest police station in the area. We keep advising everybody to keep watch of their installations. The list of communities asking for replacement is long,” Tunwase said.