…Casualty figures in conflict
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Kaduna Electricity distribution company (KADECO) said its has shutdown operations in Kafanchan business units indefinitely as a result of the protest that turned violent in the area as a result of high increase in electricity tariff and poor power supply.
The Head of Corporate Communication off the Company, Alh. Abdulazeez Abdullahi who disclosed this in clarification interview in kaduna office said their staff in the area are no longer feel secured as a result of the attack during the protest.
While he alleged that three people lost their lives during the unfortunate incident, eyewitness source who contested the allegation told our correspondent that only one person who was allegedly brutally gun down by the police led the peaceful demonstration to violent protest.
Abdullahi said that their Staff are not longer feeling safe to operate in Kafanchan looking at how the protesters stormed, vandalized their offices and burnt down their Cars.
“The total blackout in Kafanchan would continue as a result of the consequences of the protesters. our staff are not longer safe to operate for now until normalcy return but surrounding Communities will continue to enjoy supply.
He said the management learnt that the protesters came to Kaduna electric business Unit in Kafanchan, chanting songs wanting to get the Area Manager’s head,” adding that “with this kind of situation we cannot operate.” Look at how those Cars, Motorcycles were burnt, if the Area Manager or any of the Staff was found in the office, he would have been killed.
He described it as an unfortunate situation that turned to violent and lost of lives by bad people who infiltrated what ought to have been a peaceful protest, and expressed the hope that police investigation would unveiled those behind the act.
Abdullahi admitted that the company had been in constant touch with the community in trying to resolved the issues, which suddenly turned into protest.
On the frequency and regularity in which protest as a result of tariff hike occurred in Kaduna, the attendant casualties and what the company doing, he said the increment blamed on the Kaduna electricity were done by the mother body including Government and the them, given examples of the recent increment by Government.
Contacted kaduna police command spokesman Muhammad jalige could not respond.
