BEDC: One Injured As Staff Fight Dirty Over Illegal Operations In Ughelli

A staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) is battling for his life after he was stabbed several times when he attempted to stop non-staff from carrying out Illegal operations in Ughelli.

The injured staff simply identified as Samuel Ojumu Adesina, had engaged an illegal tax force team allegedly constituted by the Ughelli District Business Manager to monitor the activities of direct staff of the distribution company.

An eye witness who rushed the victim to a nearby hospital, disclosed that the victim, (SAMUEL) was chased by his assiliants and stabbed severally on his head and face before leaving him in the pool of his blood to battle for his life at Okiki Street, Uloho Avenue, Ughelli.

Narrating his ordeal, the victim, Mr. Samuel Ojomu said his assailiants were a team of hoodlums recruited by the Business Manager, Mr. Bethel Ebiuwhe to collect illegal funds from unsuspecting customers.

According him, “This morning I received a call from one of my customers that some unidentified persons are disconnecting light in Okiki street in Uloho Avenue.

“When coonfronted they alleged that they were sent by the Business Manager to disconnect light and to avoid disconnection, the customer should settle them.

“Immediately I took a bike and went to the scene. When I got to the place, I saw one of the driver to our Business Manager. His name is Mr. Paul but he is called ‘People’ and some other persons who are not BEDC staff.

“When I confronted them, they said they were taskforce set up by the BM to monitor what’s happening in the field.

“I told them that I am the Reut Marshal covering the area and if there is any such taskforce at least I should be aware and besides the people I saw are not our staff. I then brought out my phone to snap them and immediately I did that, they attacked me with broken bottles and iron. And that was how I found myself here.”

When contacted, the Business Manager, Mr. Bethel Ebiuwhe said, “I don’t talk to press and if you want to know anything speak with the PRO who is at Warri.

Meanwhile, staff of the organization has accused the Business Manager of running the Unit as a personal business.

A staff of BEDC who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said the BEDC boss is using his cronies to take over the job of employed staffs of the organization.

“The BM recruits these boys who are not staffs and they go into the network to intimidate and harass unsuspecting customers just to extort money from them and pay returns to him.

“One of them even boasted that they are the ones in charge because they are settling the BM between N40,000 and N80,000 daily.”

The BEDC PRO, Helen Ogagarue when contacted, said, “You mean a BEDC staff was stabbed? Me i am not aware, i nor know o,” she said.
(Plitics Governance)