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Explosion at Gariki Substation Plunges Parts of Enugu Into Darkness Amid Worsening Power Crisis

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Residents and businesses across several communities in Enugu metropolis were left without electricity on Friday evening after an explosion at the Gariki Injection Substation triggered a widespread power outage.

The incident has intensified public frustration over the state’s unreliable electricity supply, coming amid growing criticism of MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL), the company that assumed control of electricity distribution in Enugu following the transition from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

In a statement released Friday night, MEDL’s Head of Communications, Emeka Ezeh, confirmed that the blackout resulted from an explosion that damaged key equipment at the Gariki Injection Substation.

According to the company, the explosion occurred around 7:30 p.m. and affected the indoor 11kV breaker, disrupting electricity supply to customers connected to the Army and Gariki 11kV feeders.

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Communities affected on the Army feeder include Army Barracks, One Day Road, Meniru, Upper Meniru, and Joe Continental. Those served by the Gariki feeder also experienced outages, including Gariki Market, Mayor Market, Roban Stores along Agbani Road, Crunchies, Mobile Police Barracks, Amechi Road, Upper Mount, Ikiriki, Emeka Ebila, Ozalla Street, Egbonnaji, Nnaji Ogbodo, Idaw River, Igbariam Street, Liberation, Mount, Umuchu, Achina, Vance, Unubi, Enugu Agidi, Amawbia, Amokwe, Kenneth, Amah, and Hill Crest.

MEDL said its engineers had begun assessing the extent of the damage and were already working to restore electricity to the affected areas.

“Our technical team is currently carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the damage and has commenced the necessary restoration efforts to ensure power supply is restored as quickly as possible,” the company said.

The utility also apologized for the disruption, appealing to customers for patience while repair work continues.

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Friday’s outage adds to a growing list of power failures that have fueled widespread dissatisfaction with electricity services in Enugu State.

In May, residents of several communities accused MainPower of leaving homes, hospitals, and businesses without electricity for more than 10 days after a rainstorm damaged critical infrastructure. The prolonged outage forced many households and businesses to depend on costly petrol and diesel generators amid rising economic hardship.

The company has also faced regulatory action this year. Following numerous complaints—particularly from Band A customers—the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) downgraded 59 of MainPower’s feeders after investigations found the utility failed to provide the minimum hours of electricity required under the Service-Based Tariff regime despite charging customers at higher rates.

Since taking over Enugu’s electricity distribution under the state’s power sector reforms, MainPower has continued to face mounting criticism over prolonged outages, aging infrastructure, equipment failures, and inconsistent power supply, leaving many residents questioning whether promised improvements will ever materialize.

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Inhumanity : Dad burns daughter’s priv*te Part with hot iron for bed wetting in Ondo

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The Ondo State Police Command has nabbed a father in Owo Local Government Area for allegedly causing bodily damage on his 10-year old daughter.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that the suspect, Amos Paul,used a hot pressing iron to b¥rn the priv@te part of his daughter as punishment for bed wetting.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said the suspect was taken into custody after the incident was reported to the police on Thursday. He added that the victim is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo.

Jimoh further stated that the case would be transferred to the Gender Unit for thorough investigation and other necessary actions.

Meanwhile, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the alleged assa¥lt, describing it as cruel, inhumane and unacceptable.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding children and other vulnerable members of society against all forms of ab¥se, vi%lence and exploitation.

The Commissioner also urged members of the public to promptly report incidents of child ab¥se, domestic vi%lence and other related offences to the nearest police station, assuring them that the Command remains committed to ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.

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NEMA urges flood-prone residents to relocate as rains intensify nationwide

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The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, has urged residents of flood-prone communities across the country to heed early warning alerts and relocate to safer locations as the rainy season intensifies.

Umar advised in a statement issued by the agency’s Press Unit on Saturday, warning that the current period of heightened rainfall requires communities at risk to take proactive steps to protect lives and property.

According to the statement, the NEMA boss said the period of increased rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to reduce the impact of flooding.

She urged residents to heed early warning information issued by relevant government agencies and relocate to higher ground whenever there is a threat of flooding.

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The statement read, “The current period of heightened rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to minimise the impact of flooding.”

Umar also cautioned members of the public against driving or walking through floodwaters, while urging them to refrain from dumping refuse into drainage channels.

She further advised residents to promptly report emergency situations to the appropriate authorities to enable a timely response.

The NEMA DG stressed that “preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways of preventing avoidable loss of lives and reducing the impact of floods during the peak of the rainy season.”

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She disclosed that the agency’s Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations Offices had been directed to intensify community-based awareness campaigns on flood preparedness nationwide.

According to her, the officials have also been mandated to strengthen collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees, traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders, as well as coordinate timely search and rescue operations where necessary.

Umar reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to continuous monitoring of the flood situation nationwide. He pledged that the agency would continue working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely response and the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected persons.

The latest advisory comes days after the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency warned that 14 states could experience medium flood risk between July 14 and July 20, following its latest hydrological forecast. The agency identified Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau as states likely to experience localised flooding, urging residents in vulnerable communities to take precautionary measures.

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Earlier, the Federal Ministry of Environment had also issued a flood alert for 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, warning that heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in hundreds of communities. The ministry advised residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, monitor official weather advisories and relocate where necessary to minimise the risk to lives and property.

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Herdsmen seize mourning siblings, mother’s corpse in Benue

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Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with the remains of their late mother have reportedly been abducted by suspected armed herdsmen along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were said to have been kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday between Omutele and Ankpechi communities while transporting their mother’s body from Abuja to their hometown, Iklenyi in Okpokwu Local Government Area, LGA, for burial.

A source familiar with the incident said the family had encountered difficulties during the journey after their vehicle developed a mechanical fault, delaying their trip until the early hours of the morning.

“Even at about 2am they were still on the road because their vehicle had broken down. After repairing it, they continued the journey because they were determined to take their mother’s body home for burial,” the source said.

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According to the source, the three siblings maintained contact with their relatives throughout the trip until they reached the stretch of road between Omutele and Ankpechi communities, where they were allegedly ambushed by armed men.

“It was the three of them travelling with the corpse of their mother. When they got to that area, the armed men abducted all three siblings and even took the corpse of their mother into the bush. As we speak, they are still being held,” the source added.

Describing the incident as heartbreaking, the source appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and recover the remains of the deceased.

“It is painful that a family already grieving the loss of their mother has been subjected to this ordeal. They kidnapped not only the children but also took the corpse of a dead woman. We appeal to the security agencies to act swiftly and ensure their safe rescue,” the source said.

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Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Mr. Gabriel Adole, said he had received reports of the abduction and was on his way to the affected community to obtain firsthand information.

“I have been informed about the incident and I am heading to the area to ascertain exactly what happened,” Adole said.

The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

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