Suspected vandal electrocuted in A’Ibom

A middle-aged man suspected to be a cable thief has been electrocuted in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

The incident, which was said to have occurred in early hours of Tuesday, caused confusion as residents of the area gathered to see the lifeless body of the suspect.

It was gathered that the suspected vandal identified as Adaddy went into the Grace Bill 500KV substation, to steal cables before he was electrocuted.

A statement by the Manager, Corporate Communications of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Jonah Iboma, said the man was killed while cutting the 300mm single core armoured cable.

Iboma, who expressed shock over the ugly incident, lamented that the activities of vandals had plunged PHED’s customers into darkness.

He added that electricity distribution companies had lost millions of naira to the activities of vandals.

Iboma said, “The man simply identified in the area as Adaddy met his untimely death inside Grace Bill 500kv substation, under Qua River 11kv feeder.

“The vandal, in an attempt to cut 300mm single core armoured cable, died instantly when the lines exploded resulting to his electrocution.

“These activities of vandals have plunged the company’s esteemed customers into unwarranted darkness and PHED has lost millions of naira arising from these shameful acts.”

The PHED spokesman specifically condemned the wanton destruction of his company’s installations, adding that such acts had led to the loss of over 150 transformers with other accessories in the system.

Iboma advised community leaders and members of public to report anybody with suspicious movements around PHED installations, especially at odd hours.

He said, “You have to help us to fight these vandals by stopping and reporting any suspicious movement around PHED transformers to law enforcement agents because if you fail to make such report, you may be in darkness.”

Iboma disclosed that the incident had been reported to the Divisional Police Station, Eket while the corpse of the suspect was deposited at Emmanuel General Hospital, Eket.