By Ahmed Ajikobi
The N7bn Light Up Kwara project has been vandalised by yet to be identified suspects in Ilorin, Kwara State, National Pilot can report.
Panels and batteries of the solar street lights installed at Adewole Housing Estate, General Hospital, Ilorin axis and Offa Garage were carted away by suspected thieves.
Unsuspecting residents of the areas, who spoke to our reporter over development at the weekend, said they woke up to discovered that the street lights had been dismantled but thought it was the state government carrying out repairs on the installations.
A resident of Adewole Housing Estate, Nurudeen Ismail confirmed that the street lights were vandalised at midnight few days ago.
“The dismantled solar street lights were carefully placed on fence of Government Day Secondary School, Adewole.
“The vandals didn’t touch those near residential homes perhaps for fear of being caught, ” he stated
Also speaking to our reporter, a trader who plies his trade along General Hospital, Ilorin road, Yahaya Raheem said the vandals carried out the act after the close of business for the day in the area.
“Initially, we thought that the state government was effecting repairs on the street lights but we were left in doubt because the act was perpetrated after everyone had closed for business on the fateful day. And, nobody showed up the next morning to continue work on the dismantled installations; that made us believe it was the handiwork of vandals,” he explained.
When contacted on the development, the Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye demanded to know the exact places where the vandalisation took place and when furnished with the information, promised to forward it to appropriate authorities.
“I will forward to relevant authorities. Noted and forwarded to the appropriate quarters pls. Thank you,” he replied in a text message.
