Breaking: Jubilation in Maiduguri as TCN restores light 2 months after blackout
The transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) has today finally restored electricity in Maiduguri town and environs following the blackout caused by an attack on a transmission tower by suspected members of the armed opposition group.
The lights popped on at about 4 pm on Wednesday after it went off about two months ago.
Boko Haram gunmen brought down a transmission tower about 25km away from Maiduguri using explosives.
The Borno state government, together with engineers of the TCN swung into action to restore the lights. Midway into the job, the insurgents went to plant landmines overnight which detonated the next day as workers resumed work at the site. The massive explosion from the landmine injured two officials of the TCN as their Toyota Hilux van drove over the mined location.
Another staff of the TCN was reported to have lost his life as he fell from the tower as a result of not strapping the safety belt around his body.
For about two now, the residents of Maiduguri have groaned in pains and difficulties following the attendant hardships caused by the weeks of the blackout.
An audio messaged believed to have been released by the armed opposition group, circulated in early February in which a suspected male member of the group claimed they were responsible for the attack on the transmission tower.
Though the lights only came on for some minutes before it went, off, an official of TCN who confirmed the development to The Humanitarian Times said “yes the light has been restored, the transmission came though Molai line, but we have to charge our backup battery first”.
There are concerns however that the restored light should last as residents fear for a possible repeat of attack by the insurgents who are bent on inflicting hardship on the state.
