Over the weekend, a community in the Northern part of Nigeria was blasted into darkness by the Boko Haram terrorist group.
The blast occurred along Damaturu- Maiduguri, Borno state, destroying four power lines providing electricity to the state’s capital. The series of attacks on power lines in the state by this terrorist group is alarming. Only nine (9) months ago, residents of Maiduguri Metropolis were thrown into darkness following the bombing of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) transmission towers by ISWAP fighters.
It is appalling because the country is heavily burdened with inadequate electricity supply. Yet, a group of individuals deem it fit to destroy the poor and managed infrastructure in the state. As a result, community residents in the state have been groaning under hardship as businesses have been folded up in the absence of electricity.
In January, the terrorists thrice attacked electricity installations. It took the TCN about two months to repair the damage as workers had to navigate land mines placed by the terrorists. Following the repairs, another attack was carried out in March, setting back supply to the whole of the state. This attack is set to worsen the already abysmal electricity supply in the state (learn more).
Just about a month ago, the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) commenced building a gas plant to cater to the electricity needs of the people. However, with the weekend blast, what will be the gas plant’s future if eventually completed.
Should these groups of individuals be left to act as they please while the state’s poor people suffer? On several occasions, the country’s government has welcomed some of these hoodlums as ‘repentant’ and provided them with basic amenities. One may argue that this move is a positive approach towards ending the menace these terrorists cause in society. Sadly, however, this approach appears to be a surface scratch to conquering the terrorist group.
A lot is yet to be done to curb the ongoing bombings targeted at power infrastructure because the ripple effects of the blast into darkness in the state affect the residents and the country’s economic development.