Blackout: Youths Injure Policemen, Electricity Workers in Bayelsa

By Emmanuel Addeh

Three policemen and six officials of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) have been seriously injured in clashes with some youths in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

THISDAY learnt that the wounded persons were attacked in different parts of Bayelsa State for attempts to recover debts and effect disconnection of defaulters.

The Business Service Manager, PHED, Pere Alazigha, it was gathered, was one of the company’s officials attacked with various dangerous weapons and left in a pool of blood by the angry youths.

Another employee of the electricity company, identified as Christian Umegbewe, PHED confirmed on Saturday, ‎was pushed down from the ladder as he attempted to disconnect some houses in the capital city.

‎In a statement issued by the Protocol Officer and Corporate Communications Officer, Sophilia Obire, the company specifically said that the security personnel attached to officials while on the disconnection exercise were attacked in Epie Community.

“The attack, which was spearheaded by youths, resulted in injury to three policemen, the Business Service Manager, Pere Alazigha, a linesman, Christian Umegbewe and other staff members involved in the disconnection exercise.

“While Alazigha was left with a machete cut on his body, Umegbewe was pushed down from the ladder by the youths during the disconnection process. Both of them were immediately hospitalized‎”, the company noted.

While condemning the act, PHED said that the company would not relent in its commitment in serving their paying customers .

”And this we hope to achieve by ensuring that customers pay for energy consumed”, the company said.

Further details later