Some suspected Boko Haram insurgents once again launched attack on the National Grid high tension electricity towers, cables and wires, sending the entire Maiduguri, Borno state capital into total darkness after they reportedly bombed some of the power poles along Maiduguri-Damaturu highway.
A reliable and senior security officer on patrol along Maiduguri-Damaturu road said, “We are also surprised to see some of the electric towers on ground and cables fell on each other in not far distance between Mainok and Jakana village while we were on patrol Friday morning which made us to draw the attention of other security agents and electricity officers to be aware.
“Yes, we tried to reach the location but we could not go further to the scene of the incident because by all indications, it is bomb attack and is dangerous to reach the scene without anti-bomb equipment or facility or detector to trace the Inmprovised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”
Blueprint gathered that in a distant village, Katsaita, residents witnessed a deafening explosion followed by a lightning-like glow at the exact same time before power supply went off.
“It was the Boko Haram terrorists that used a suspected massive bomb to bring down one of the high tension towers,” a resident who simply identified himself as Nasiru said.
Confirming the development, the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr.Ndidi Mbah, said the recent incident was an act of vandalism, adding, “TCN engineers have already moved to the site and discovered evidence of explosives used in the attack. A contractor has been mobilised to commence reconstruction work.”
Blueprint reports that similar incident occurred in mid January 2021 when the entire Borno state was thrown into perennial darkness for over a year following alleged attacks on high tension electricity towers few kilometers to same Jakana village.
This led to the intervention of NNPC with the establishment of gas-enabled electricity supply station in Maiduguri, commissioned by the former President Muhammadu Buhari to complement distribution network.
The renewed attack on power equipment has not only disrupted socio-economic activities of the area but has also raised concerns about security threats and fears from the suspected boko haram terrorists.
It has also put the Christmas celebration and new year in poor and worrying situation.
