An unidentified vandal of Aba Power Electric transformer at Omuma Road, Aba, has paid with his life as he was electrocuted while attempting to cut copper wires from the transformer.
The tragic incident occured two days ago when residents of the area woke up and found the vandal’s lifeless body hanging on the poles supporting wires connected to a distribution transformer.
Eyewitnesses reported that he was in the company of two other suspected vandals who fled immediately the electrocution occurred.
Aba Power’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager, Mr. Ikenna Okwoli, expressed shock at the extent some individuals go in their attempts to vandalize electricity infrastructure, while Mr. Edise Ekong, Manager, Branding and Communication for Aba Power, 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 unauthorized access and interference with electricity assets,” he said.
Mr. Ekong further emphasized the need for stronger community collaboration to protect critical public infrastructure.
He said: “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.”
The body was later retrieved by officers from the Abia State Police Command and and taken to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Mortuary off Jubilee Road in Aba.
Residents who gathered at the scene expressed disappointment that the attempt to vandalize the transformer could once again plunged the community into darkness.
Mr. John Ezeonwu, a local food store owner, lamented that the people living on Omuma Road and environs did not enjoy steady power supply due to a serious misunderstanding between them, which he said, has been resolved only “that a miscreant has caused cessation of supplies once again, though we are confident that Aba Power will restore power as soon as possible.
” I won’t say the vandal deserved what happened, but it is truly unfortunate.”
Aba Power has however, warned vandals to desist from their unlawful acts and seek more productive pursuits, stressing that vandalism of the power infrastructure not only disrupts electricity supply but also endangers lives.
