A suspected vandal has been electrocuted while attempting to tamper with a power substation belonging to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited in Enugu.
The incident occurred at the Akonobi 500KVA distribution substation located within the Independence Layout area of the state, where the lifeless body of the yet-to-be-identified individual was discovered in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to the company’s Head of Communications, Emeka Ezeh, the suspect and his accomplices had reportedly begun vandalising the facility by loosening electrical cables before the situation turned fatal.
Preliminary findings indicate that while attempting to remove a third cable, electricity supply was suddenly restored, leading to the suspect’s electrocution. It is believed that other accomplices fled the scene with already removed cables, leaving the victim behind.
The remains of the deceased were later evacuated by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and deposited at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital morgue.
Reacting to the incident, the distribution company described it as unfortunate and raised concerns over the increasing rate of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure within its network. The company noted that such acts not only endanger lives but also disrupt power supply and negatively affect service delivery to customers.
Officials have called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around electricity installations, stressing that protecting public infrastructure requires collective responsibility.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of infrastructure vandalism in Nigeria’s power sector, where illegal tampering with electrical facilities continues to pose risks to both perpetrators and the wider community.
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