After destroying several electricity power lines thereby cutting off Maiduguri metropolis from enjoying electric power supply for about nine months, four other high tension towers supplying electricity along Damaturu-Maiduguri in Borno State were destroyed by suspected members of ISWAP fighters on Friday night.
This latest setback comes barely one month after the NNPC commenced the building of a gas plant to provide electricity to the state in the North-East sub-region.
The electric towers were destroyed at Garin Kuturu village, which is about two kilometres from Auno, an area constantly terrorised by the insurgents.
According to reports, the attack on the facilities started in the evening around 7 pm and lasted up to 10 pm after which the four power lines were destroyed.
Reacting to the incident, some residents of the state capital who spoke to The Punch expressed their frustration at the latest destruction stating that the state has suffered enough hardship as a result of the insurgency.
“This latest destruction of the electricity towers has confirmed that these insurgents are still active in the state and it also shows that they are closer to the city than suspected,” Adamu Usman noted.
Another resident, Mohammed Abdullahi questioned the genuineness of the recent surrender by some commanders of the terrorist group.
He said, “I have maintained my position that these Boko Haram terrorists are not repentant. They were forced out by the superior military operation ongoing in their hideouts. We do not trust these terrorists, we don’t believe they can ever repent. Their presence in our midst is dangerous not only to the poor masses but even the elites.”
