The prolonged power outage in Taraba State and across the Northeast has continued to fuel frustration among residents, who are increasingly critical of elected leaders’ silence on the crisis.

For more than a week, a widespread blackout left millions of people in Taraba and surrounding states without power, blocking commercial activities, disrupting daily life and raising concerns about a potential increase in crime.

An investigation by our reporter highlights growing discontent within states affected by the outages, with many accusing leaders, including those at the Northern Governors Forum, of inaction.

Despite power cuts affecting both urban centers and rural areas, authorities have yet to publicly address the situation, fueling anger and a sense of neglect among residents.

A community leader, Usman Milla, described the energy situation as “unbearable”, warning that if not resolved quickly, it could worsen security problems in an already vulnerable region.

“What disconcerts most of us is the lukewarm attitude of our leaders towards the power outage in this part of the country,” Milla remarked.

He added that prolonged power outages could push some residents to take desperate measures, noting that local businesses, especially those that rely on electricity to store perishable goods, have been hit hard.

A food seller, Agnès Samuel, lamented that all her refrigerated stock had spoiled.

“All my plans have been thwarted because of this total blackout that we have been experiencing for over a week,” she said.

Similarly, Salihu Alade, owner of a small business that sells sachet water and soft drinks, also expressed frustration, saying he had concluded plans to close his business while waiting for power to be restored.

Like all those interviewed, he attributed the crisis to a perceived lack of proactive measures by northern leaders and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.

“Our leaders in this part of the country have failed us,” Alade said, calling for urgent federal action to restore stability to the affected regions.

Adding to the urgency, a source from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, warned residents to unplug appliances as power could soon be restored, potentially with high voltage that could damage equipment.

With the ongoing development, residents spread across the state and the region at large are demanding a prompt response from the leadership to address the crisis and prevent further escalation of insecurity in the region.