A yet-to-be-identified male vandal has been confirmed dead after being electrocuted in Abia State, Nigeria’s South-east.
His body was found on Wednesday dangling from an electricity cable in Aba, a commercial city in the state.
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The deceased alleged vandal was believed to have been electrocuted while allegedly trying to steal items from a transformer in the area.
Residents of Omuma Road in Aba where the incident happened told PREMIUM TIMES that the victim was in the company of two other suspected vandals who fled the scene immediately he was electrocuted.
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The residents further said the attempted vandalism also caused a large spark during the incident.
Speaking when he visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday, the Manager of Aba Power Electric Company’s Health, Safety and Environment, Ikenna Okwoli, expressed shock that some individuals take such high risk to vandalise electricity infrastructure.
Mr Okwoli warned vandals to desist from such unlawful acts and embrace more productive pursuits.
He also emphasised that vandalism not only disrupts electricity supply but also endangers lives.
Also speaking during the visit, the Manager of Aba Power’s Branding and Communication, Edise Ekong, described the incident as “unfortunate.”
“It is sad to see an able-bodied man lose his life in this way. Unfortunately, this is one of the consequences of unauthorised access and interference with electricity assets,” Mr Ekong said.
He stressed the need for stronger community collaboration to protect public infrastructure.
“Communities must come together and work with Aba Power to safeguard electricity assets around them. That is the only way we can win the war against vandals and vandalism,” he said.
Police operatives later retrieved the body and deposited it at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Aba.
Residents who gathered at the scene expressed fear that the attempted vandalism could plunge the community into darkness.
John Ezeonwu, a local food store owner, lamented that for a long time, residents of Omuma Road did not enjoy steady power supply due to a misunderstanding which has now been resolved.
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“Just when we started having steady power supply, a miscreant cut it off again. I won’t say the vandal deserved what happened, but it is truly unfortunate,” he lamented.
Police speak
When contacted, the police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.
Ms Chinaka, a deputy superintendent of police, said the victim’s body was deposited in the morgue as soon as his death was confirmed.
“Investigation is ongoing but the identity of the person is yet to be ascertained,” she said.
