Police arrest transformer vandal after rescuing him unconscious

The police in Enugu State say they have rescued a suspected vandal trapped and unconscious in an electricity transformer in the state.

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The state police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday night.

Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, identified the suspect as Chidiebere Nnaji, 23.

The spokesman said Nnaji was arrested on Monday after he was found unconscious with various degrees of burns while allegedly vandalising a transformer along Ogbaike Road, Obollo-Afor, Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

“His arrest followed credible information from community members that he had been discovered at about 2:20 p.m. trapped inside the transformer while allegedly attempting to vandalise it,” he said.

Continuing, Ndukwe said: “Upon receiving the information, operatives of the Command attached to Udenu Police Division promptly mobilised to the scene, found the suspect unconscious with various degrees of burns.

“He was immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital, where he was resuscitated and subsequently referred to a specialist hospital for further treatment.

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“Upon regaining consciousness, the suspect identified himself as Nnaji Chidiebere and stated that he had been alone at the scene.”

The police spokesman said preliminary investigation linked the suspect to transformer vandalism in the area.

“Further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of his activities, identify possible accomplices, and facilitate his prosecution,” he added.

Ndukwe said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has commended residents of the community for their prompt intervention and information.

Giwa noted that information from the residents enabled the police to respond swiftly and rescue and arrest the suspect.

The commissioner reiterated the Command’s firm commitment to protecting “critical public infrastructure.”

The police chief urged the residents to continue providing “timely and credible information” on suspicious activities in the area.

Vandalism in Nigeria

Vandalism of electrical infrastructure has become a growing national crisis, causing widespread blackouts and damage to critical power infrastructure.

For instance, the Transmission Company of Nigeria said in June that vandals destroyed six transmission towers on the crucial Apir-Lafia transmission line in Nasarawa State, causing severe power supply disruptions.

READ ALSO: Police recover stolen goods, vandalised transformer cables in Akwa Ibom

Frustrated by the frequent destruction of power infrastructures by vandals in 2024, the then-Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, recommended the death penalty for persons who steal power infrastructure.

Industry experts warn that ongoing electricity theft and infrastructure vandalism pose a significant threat to the country’s power sector and economic growth.

“The pervasive theft of electricity and deliberate destruction of power infrastructure in Nigeria have reached crisis levels, posing a significant threat to the country’s power sector and economic growth and development,” Ogunrinde Adeola, an energy expert, had said.