Four Katsina communities protest six-month blackout

File photo: Katsina State map

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Residents of four Katsina communities have protested what they described as six months of complete darkness, saying the outage has crippled daily life.

Hundreds gathered in Barhim on Sunday, demanding urgent action to restore power to Abuja Quarters, Barhim Layout, Sha’iskawa and Tigirmis Quarters.

Protesters said the situation has pushed more than 5,000 homes into deep hardship, worsening water shortages and heightening insecurity across the area.

Community representative, Usman Mohammad-Alqasim, said the long blackout has become intolerable for families struggling through the disruption.

He said, “For about six months now, thousands of people in these communities have been cut off from the national grid without any clear explanation.”

He blamed the outage on illegal buildings under a 33kV line, which the state government ordered demolished before the exercise was halted mid-way.

“Some structures were removed, but work suddenly stopped after the intervention of the Batagarawa council chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Kawo,” he said.

Mohammad-Alqasim said the chairman told residents funds had been approved to relocate the line, yet no work has started to address the crisis.

He added, “Instead, the houses previously marked for demolition now enjoy electricity, while the larger communities remain in darkness.”

The Village Head of Barhim Layout, Sirajo Aminu, said the blackout has increased theft cases and worsened insecurity across the affected zones.

“If not for a few concerned individuals, the suffering would have been much worse. Many residents can barely access water,” he said.

Aminu urged the state government to restore electricity and also provide essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and proper drainage.

Residents told the News Agency of Nigeria they will continue pressing for swift intervention to end what they described as an avoidable and painful ordeal.

Council Chairman, Yahaya Kawo, confirmed awareness of the situation, assuring residents that efforts were under way to resolve the issue “this week.”

NAN

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