The Port Harcourt metropolis was on Monday morning thrown into unwarranted darkness by fierce looking youths from Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to the spokesman for the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), Mr John Onyi, the incident occurred when a Federal Government facility under the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) located inside Afam was forcefully shut and barricaded by the youths.
Mr Onyi noted in a statement that not only was the station shut down, but the technical men on duty were also chased away, leading to their inability to transmit power to PHED for onward distribution to its customers.
“On check, it was gathered that one of the highly politically exposed persons who resides within the area was responsible for the youths’ action on the ground that his feeder was placed on load shedding.
“The parochial action of the youth is becoming habitual and very embarrassing. Recall that late last year on two occasions, the same youths from Oyigbo blocked the source of supply to Port Harcourt metropolis.
“The action of the youth if unabated will continue to plunge Port Harcourt city into unnecessary darkness.
“The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) condemns in its entirety, taking laws into hand – posture of the youth – and hereby, draws the attention of the law enforcement agencies in particular and the Rivers State Government to come to the aid of PHED and the good people of the state to intervene and put a final stop to this frequent disruption of power distribution to customers,” the statement read.