Some Irate Youths in Ologbo, of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State on Thursday prevented some officials of the Ossiomo Power Company from restoring electricity supply to its customers in Benin City and its environs as the switching on of the IPP ll unit at the power plant was thwarted by the youths.
Ossiomo Power Company has been out of business for nearly one year due to the illegal takeover of its gas plant by some youths whose actions are alleged to have been influenced by a Chinese firm known as Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Co. Ltd (CCETC).
Some members of the public had converged at the power company to witness the resumption of the supply of electricity to thousands of its customers, majority of whom have been in darkness for about ten months.
Among those in attendance was a civil society group, the Talakawa’s Parliament led by its leader, Kola Edokpayi, and some journalists who gathered to be part of the epoch making event.
At the event, the placards carrying civil society members declared their support for Ossiomo Power Company and condemned the vandalization of its facilities by hoodlums.
They further urged stakeholders, especially the people of Ologbo community to support efforts to protect the Ossiomo power facilities for the benefit of the people.
They also appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo and Benin monarch to quickly intervene in the matter so that the Ossiomo Power Company can bounce back and resume the supply electricity to people of the state.
The power company had earlier alleged the vandalization of its 33KV transmission lines and the forceful taken over of its gas station by the suspected Itsekiri youths, even after giving the community nearly 200 million naira as corporate social responsibility (CRS).
But unfortunately, as the members of the civil society group were driving out of the area, some Irate youths stormed the place, threatening fire and brimstones.
They held everyone hostage for nearly an hour fuming why the visitors dared to visit the area without their (youths) authorisation, insisting that only visitors to the CCETC were welcomd
The unruly youths who blocked the only exit road would have heavily descended on some journalists and members of the civil society group if not for the timely intervention of the security personnel at the Ossiomo Power Company.
Meanwhile ,one of the leader of the irate youths, Mr. Felix Okotie, still in their show of shame, rough handled some people including a journalist, an Ossiomo Power Company’s driver and a security personnel from the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
They claimed they were acting on behalf of their community and the state government, even as one enraged youth shouting in a loud voice, said “if the Governor (Senator Monday Okpebholo), hears you people are here, you people will not leave here in peace”
