Criminals have attacked and burnt down the Ogidi District office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) in Anambra State.
It was learnt that the unidentified criminal elements attacked the building early hours of Monday, burning about 32 utility and operational vehicles, other assets and equipment within the premises.
FirstNews earlier reported that the Idemili North Local Government secretariat in Ogidi, Anambra State and a Magistrate Court in the area were burnt down by yet to be identified arsonists on Sunday night.
Confirming the Monday early morning incident, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, decried the failure of the Anambra State Fire Service to rescue the situation amid several calls out across to the fire service.
He said, “It later took the intervention of the Honourable Commissioner for Utilities, Anambra State, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, at about 9.05 am this morning to bring the Fire Service team down to the scene of the incident”.
According to Ezeh, the management of EEDC expressed shock over the incident, especially as it happened at a period the company had invested so much to improve its operations.
He said, “This is a big loss to EEDC, and a great setback to the efforts being made by the company to strengthen its network and improve the quality of service to its customers within Ogidi and Anambra State at large.
“We have already brought this development to the attention of the relevant authorities and it is expected that proper investigation will be carried out and the perpetrators of this dastardly act brought to book.
“There is no way a developing economy as ours can progress if we continue to record this kind of incident.”
The criminals were said to have pull down some of the wall of the office complex to gain access to the building, afterwards, attacked one of the security personnel manning the office and inflicted several machete wounds on his head, leg and arm, while his other colleagues ran for their lives.
The victim is said to be receiving treatment at the hospital.
“We thank God that no life was lost. We condemn this unjustifiable act and pray such does not reoccur”, Ezeh added.