Angry residents of Asaba in Delta State especially residents of Umuagu quarters, Friday, protested alleged extortion by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) officials, saying that in the last six months officials of BEDC had allegedly been extorting them of their hard earned money under the guise of re-connection fee, among others.
The protesters, though peaceful, took to various streets in Asaba with placards, said: “BEDC officials stop extorting money from us. We don’t have light, everyday officials coming to collect N1,000 from each of us. We are tired of giving money that is not part of our bills to BEDC officials”.
It was gathered that BEDC officials, who were allegedly engaged in illegal activities often swoop on consumers in Asaba, particularly those who do not want to be paying bills regularly to do illicit and illegal connection for them, and in the process extort huge sums of money from them.
But Miss Tina Okwudili, a provision seller at Umuagu Quarters close the UBA Bank who spoke to DAILY POST, said, “everyday, these BEDC officials come to collect N1,000 from me outside the bills I pay monthly. Sometimes, they disconnect my line, and I will pay N5, 000 without receipt, it is getting too much for me”.
Leader of the protesters, Okwuosa Onwudiwe, who spoke to newsmen, decried illegal activities of BEDC officials, saying that it might spell doom if steps are not taken by authority concerned to stop them.
According to him: “We have been tolerating the illegal activities of these BEDC officials. They extort money from us almost everyday. They claim they are sent by their boss to carry out their duty. It is not true as they go about collecting money from traders, everybody.”
But the BEDC Public Relations Manager, Edo/Delta, Mrs. Esther Okolie, in a swift reaction, said: “We don’t have officials extorting money from customers. Those officials are illegal. BEDC has no illegal workers, any official of BEDC extorting money from customers will be dismissed. As for consumers who refused to pay his/her bills will be disconnected, however, BEDC will investigate all the allegations against its purported officials.”
Meanwhile, a 32-year-old fake BEDC official, identified as Nnamdi Sunday, was in the early hours of Friday, lynched by angry mob at Umuagu quarters in Asaba for alleged extortion and illegal activities.
Eyewitness, Lanko Adewale said the fake BEDC worker allegedly took N2,000 from one Madam Patricia to reconnect her disconnected light. In the process brought out a ladder. While climbing, he fell down a situation that attracted sympathisers to the scene and was identified to be motor park tout.
The fake BEDC worker, was said to have been lynched by the angry mob, and was later taken to “A” Division police station, where he was detained.
At the “A” Division police station, officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the detention of the suspect, adding that he was caught on illegal duties and also identified as motor park tout.
ASP Chuks Orisewezie, Acting Police Public Relations officer in the state, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said investigation was ongoing.
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