we’re not aware — Imo govt

By Dennis Agbo

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, has alleged that the Imo State government on Wednesday morning swooped on its Orlu office and reduced it to a rubble without prior notice or any unresolved matter with the state government.

EEDC Head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh who made the disclosure in a statement he issued in Enugu further alleged that the Imo state government stealthy came through the back of their office to carry out the demolition, adding that when some staff tried to raise objections, they were assaulted and bundled to Owerri from Orlu.

The Imo state commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba however said that he was not aware of the development and promised to investigate the matter.

According to Ezeh, the EEDC Orlu District office was visited with an excavator sent by the Imo State Government, pulling down the store, the cash office, and the security house with properties and equipment belonging to the company destroyed while the staff who were around were denied access when they attempted to salvage the properties and equipment.

“This development is quite disturbing as there is no known reason for the action, nor was there any notice or communication made to EEDC in that regard, rather we were told that they were acting under the directive of the state government,” Ezeh lamented

He further disclosed that in an attempt to resist the action and enquire what necessitated the sudden demolition, the District Business Manager, along with one of the operations staff, were assaulted and whisked away to Owerri by a special security squad known as “Tiger Base”.

“These whole events were happening under the watch of the Charman, Orlu Local Government Area, Hon. Chris Mbaeri. As at the time of issuing this statement, the management of EEDC is still in the dark as to why this undeserving calamity is meted on it.

“We therefore request the Imo State Government to at least let us know why an office premises we have occupied for over two decades is suddenly being demolished in the manner it was done in the early hours of today,” Ezeh demanded.