Some residents of Felele community in Ibadan, Oyo State, have been left without electricity for three weeks after suspected vandals stole cables from the transformer that supplies them power.

FIJ gathered that a section of the community powered by the transformer has been without power supply since the incident happened on October 6.

The residents, most of whom have turned to generating sets for power, have called on the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to come to their aid.

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“The transformer is opposite Rubies International School and Scrolab Hotel. Since then, more than 25 houses and shops that the transformer supplies electricity have been in darkness. My house is also one of them,” one of the affected residents, who asked not to be named, told FIJ.

Another resident, who simply identified himself as Oluwasegun, said, “The hardship that residents now go through is unbecoming. Shops and houses now run on generating sets.

“We heard that we are to pay N200,000 for new cables. I don’t know how true it is, but it is really tough to ask the community to donate during this time when the economy is not so booming. I urge IBEDC to replace the missing cables.”

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When FIJ contacted Busola Tunwase, IBEDC spokesperson, she debunked the N200,000 contribution allegation, noting that the power company would never ask residents to contribute money for repair.

“It is not in our culture; it is our duty to repair. When issues like this happen, we tell communities to be patient. But when communities get restless, they resort to self-help,” Tunwase said.

“The community should be patient with us. We are going to repair it, but it may not be immediate due to paucity of fund.”