By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Karatudu Extension Community Development Association (KECDA) has widely protested against Kaduna Electric Distribution Company (KAEDCO), over alleged electrocution of members in Gonin Gora area of kaduna South.
The protest held at KAEDCO office blamed the company of multiple deaths caused by electrocution as a result of poorly maintained transformers and 13-day prolonged power blackout in karatudu extension area of Gonin Gora, located along Abuja -kaduna highway.
The community revealed that 22 transformers in their area are not properly earthed, describing it as a fatal flaw, as well as a “death trap”, adding that it has already claimed several lives, amongst other most critical issue raised as the immediate danger to lives.
The protesters therefore demanded that all unsafe transformers be shut down immediately to prevent further tragedies of electrocution, which allegedly occurred through touching of wall on the houses.
Compounding the safety crises is the alleged complete collapse of public electricity supply, according to the community leaser. “The community has been in darkness for 13 days”, which the community attributed to a surge in theft and insecurity.
They reported that the blackout has emboldened thieves, including some elements claiming to be KAEDCO staff, stealing electrical equipment from the de-energized transformers and poles, with many street poles down and live wires lying on the ground.
The protesters expressed deep frustration with KAEDCO’s excuses for the poor service.
One protester (mame withheld), claiming to have insider knowledge from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, authoritatively revealed that power has been distributed to the region, directly contradicting KAEDCO’s explanation about collapsed towers.
He accused the company of “negligence” and “wickedness” for failing to use its system to detect fault, and relied on communities to report faults instead of deploying its field staff.
In a tense exchange, the protesters demanded specific answers and time frames.
They also insisted on knowing why the victims families of at least three electrocuted have not been compensated, criticizing KAEDCO management for failing to send representatives to a wake keep of the deceased, despite promises to do so.
The placards inscriptions reads: “KAEDCO Stop Killing Us, Enough is Enough, NEPA Do Something Now.. Our Community Chairman is a sellout, Deal with the community directly”.
The Service Manager, Haruna Magaji, acknowledged the grievances but stated his limited authority. “This is the first time I’m hearing about no earths from the community. I will table your grievances to the management”.
He added that he could not finalize any decisions, stressing that “While he assured that power had been restored the previous night, his responses did little to the placated crowd.
The protesters also passed -a- vote- of -no- confidence on Karatudu Extension Community Development Association Chairman, Elder Simeon Oloyede who has been the chairman of the community for 17 years.
According to the KECDA, Elders that were part of the protest, Elder Oloyede has been occupying the leadership of KECDA since 2011.
“The community constitution stipulated two years for a single tenure, but the chairman was reelected on 4th May 2013 for a second term, and his tenure was supposed to end in 2015.
“For now, the chairman is no longer recognized as our leader. He is viewed as a sellout and not representing the community’s interests. Anyone dealing with him as our representative does so at their own risk.” they declared.
The protest ended with a stark ultimatum, as the community vowed to stage more severe protests and threatened to “Set this office on fire”, if their demands for safe infrastructure, stable power supply, and compensation for the victims’ families, are not met promptly and decisively.
