Hoodlums have taken advantage of a prolonged power outage to vandalize electrical installations and steal cables in Anguwan and Gangare communities, located in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The blackout began on Monday after a tripping incident on the 330KV circuit transmission lines between Benue and Enugu states, affecting multiple northern states, including Plateau.
Residents reported that the thieves struck on Thursday and Friday nights, targeting the local transformers. Muhammad Munir, a resident of Gangare, shared that the hoodlums dismantled his community’s transformer and stole essential components, resulting in significant repair costs.
“They vandalized the transformer at midnight, taking items that will require a lot of money to replace,” Munir told reporters.
In Anguwan Rogo, community leader Alhaji Bala Tanko recounted how the thieves began tampering with the transformer around 10 p.m. while most residents were asleep. He noted that some neighbors were alerted by unusual sounds and arrived quickly, forcing the hoodlums to flee, leaving their tools behind.
“Without the blackout, they wouldn’t have had the chance to remove the wires. We’ve been in darkness for over six days, and these people are only adding to our hardship,” Tanko lamented. He urged residents to stay vigilant to prevent further incidents and safeguard the community’s power infrastructure.
