Blackout in Maiduguri as Boko Haram destroys electricity tower

Maiduguri, the Borno capital, and some communities have been thrown into darkness after Boko Haram insurgents destroyed an electricity tower supplying power to the city.

According to NAN, the disconnection from the national grid has lasted for more than one week and grounded many businesses.

Some residents who spoke with the news agency expressed dismay at the action of the insurgents and the inability of the authorities to get the capital back on the grid.

Ibrahim Abubakar, a resident, called on the authorities to reconnect the city back to the grid.

“It’s now one week and most people don’t know why there is no electricity in Maiduguri. We need to know what caused it and efforts by the power company to address the matter,” Abubakar said.

“You can’t leave people in darkness without explanation.”

Moses Bala, a welder, said he solely depended on the power as he was not buoyant enough to afford a generator.

“Because of steady supply over the months, I solely depend on power from the government and now that there is no power for one week; I remain out of business,” Bala said.

“I can’t afford a generator as I am still young in this business.”

Kingsley Nkemneme, spokesperson of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) in charge of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba states, said he could not comment because the problem has to do with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

“The TCN is in a better position to comment on this as the problem is not about distribution but transmission,” Nkemneme said.

This is the second time in three months that insurgents will be attacking the power transmission line to Maiduguri, according to NAN.