By Politico Staff Writer
The Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency, EDSA has condemned the “wanton vandalization of electrical installations across the country with specific reference to our secondary substations”. In a statement widely circulated on social media, the institution described that attack on their installations as a “deliberate ploy by mischief makers to take the shine out of the Authority’s quest to provide reliable and accessible electricity for citizens”.
This latest statement is part of a string of others on the same subject following social media reports of transformer stations being vandalized and copper cables stolen. EDSA says the “naked cables left in the wake of these vandalizations compromise the safety and security of citizens and also plunge communities into long periods of outages or blackouts”. It calls on “community stakeholders, residents, youths and the security sector to intensify their watchdog roles and security patrols or vigilance with the view to protecting these installations”.
According EDSA citizens must demand for identification papers from people who present themselves as staff of the institution and prevent or even arrest “anyone caught trespassing on any of EDSA's properties”.
Citizens are urged to call hotlines with the Sierra Leone Police on 124 or the Office of National Security (ONS) on 119 to report suspected cases of theft of EDSA cables.
Many ordinary people who spoke to Politico say they are disappointed by the fact that EDSA appears unable to protect their installations against people sabotaging their efforts to continuously supply electricity to homes and businesses. Some people on social media have called for soldiers and personnel of the Operational Support Division of the Sierra Leone Police to be deployed at all EDSA installations vulnerable to vandalization.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online
