Death of telecom engineers worsens security challenges

The BTS sites in Aba, Abia State where six personnel staff were killed. Photo courtesy: MTN

Professionals in the telecommunication sector have frowned at the killing of six staff of MTN Nigeria at the firm’s Base Transceiver Station (BTS) site in Aba, Abia State.

A project manager of MTN in Aba, one Valentine, explained that the incident took place last week while the staff went to work at the site.

“This is to inform you that our team of engineers went out to work at Gabby Oil, Aba Road, Aba, Abia State, and while working on the generator, four gunmen walked into the BTS site while the team of engineers were waiting for the RBS to load after bringing up the generator and held them at gunpoint,” Mr. Valentine said in a report to the company’s head office.

“One Petrolseal engineer, two Mopol men, the rigger, and the security man were killed outright while the second Petrolseal engineer died on arrival at the hospital,” he said..

Titi Omo-Ettu, the president of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said in an email message that the murders are shocking.

“Nobody living in Nigeria can pretend that this is a new development, but this certainly is one murder too callous to be regarded as one of the usual stories. We commiserate with MTN and with the families of the murdered persons,” he said.

Government must act now

Mr. Omo-Ettu, however, said the increase in criminal activities in the country shows that the government is helpless and must act now before it loses its relevance.

“We invite attention of the Federal Government to these murders and kidnappings, which is now blatantly portraying government as helpless. The essence of governance is now appearing to be meaningless while living and investing in our country may be becoming anathema to all peoples of the world,” he said.

“Our association pledges to do all things possible to assist the police in investigating this incident and we invite the attention of the new Inspector General of Police to the need to see this as one case which requires speedy investigation and prosecution of those found culpable, as this will determine where we go from here. Criminal acts of this nature have been encouraged because perpetrators are hardly ever caught and prosecuted,” Mr. Omo-Ettu said.

Enough is Enough

Telecom operators have reported that security is a major challenge to them, as their BTS sites are constantly vandalised by hoodlums.

In a press conference last week, Gbenga Adebayo, the president of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said apart from the recent shutdown of some BTS sites around the country, some equipment at the sites are constantly vandalised and stolen. He said this affects national security as well.

“Peace, investment, life, and living, have now been threatened to a level that makes it necessary to invite the president, Goodluck Jonathan, to please intervene urgently,” Mr. Omo -Ettu said.

“Enough is enough, and a country that seeks the loftiest theme of vision 20-2020 cannot continue to go on like this,” he said.

Only two personnel survived the armed attack at the BTS; one Ericssion engineer and his driver hid behind the RBS units in the site, so the fired bullets missed them.