Court jails man for vandalising JED transformer in Bauchi

A Bauchi State Upper Sharia Court sitting in Toro has sentenced one Julabib Muhammed to two years imprisonment for vandalising a power transformer belonging to the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED Plc).

The court found Muhammed guilty of tampering with critical electricity infrastructure—an act that has increasingly threatened power supply across the state and other areas within the JED franchise.

In reaction to the verdict, the Acting Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management at JED Plc, Saratu Dauda Aliyu, described the judgement as “an answered prayer” and a bold step toward tackling the persistent menace of vandalism.

Aliyu lamented the financial burden such incidents place on the company, noting that funds meant for network upgrades and expansion are often redirected to repair damaged facilities.

“The company’s productivity is severely hampered when funds that should be directed toward network expansion and strategic upgrades are frequently diverted to rehabilitate vandalised infrastructure,” she said.

She also commended the vigilance of the Toro community, which, she noted, played a crucial role in averting another attempt at vandalism, during which some stolen items were recovered.
“As partners in progress, we urge all our host communities to join our ongoing efforts by also taking ownership and safeguarding the installations around them,” Aliyu stated.

She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with security agencies and communities to apprehend and prosecute vandals, warning that offenders will face the full force of the law.

JED Plc, she added, remains dedicated to protecting its assets and ensuring a steady and reliable power supply across its coverage areas.

The Star