A middle-aged man, whose identity has not yet been determined, was electrocuted while trying to vandalize a transformer and cables belonging to the Jos Electricity Distribution Company in Benue State on Tuesday morning.
According to The PUNCH, the incident took place opposite the Queens Hotel in Ankpa Ward, Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.
Residents were shocked to discover the man’s lifeless body hanging between two poles connected to the transformer.
A resident named Terkula recounted that the man exploited a power outage in the area to carry out the vandalism.
He suggested that the man likely met his end when power was unexpectedly restored.
Terkula explained, “We woke up this morning at about 5 am and discovered that electricity had been restored in some areas and streets close to ours. So, a few of our neighbours went to check the transformer. When we arrived at the site, we found that all the cables and other installations had been removed, and we saw a lifeless body on the pole.”
He added, “We promptly informed the ‘D’ Division Police Station, and they came to remove the body.”
The Head of Corporate Communications at JED, Dr. Adakole Elijah, confirmed the incident and condemned the actions of vandals despite heightened security around JED’s infrastructure.
He stated, “It has become impossible for the company to protect these assets single-handedly. That is why we are pleading with communities to take ownership of electricity facilities in their areas, as it is them that the facility serves.”
Elijah continued, “Each time our facilities are vandalised, we spend significant amounts of money to restore services, only for them to be vandalised again. While the assets belong to the company, the communities are the end users. Vandalism of these facilities puts communities at risk in terms of security, social, and economic benefits. We continue to plead with people, especially community policing and vigilantes, to assist in safeguarding these assets.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, also confirmed the incident, noting, “I am aware that someone was electrocuted in Wadata while attempting to vandalise a transformer. I received a report about that.”
