A suspected vandal was electrocuted while attempting to tamper with a power facility in Enugu, highlighting growing concerns over infrastructure attacks.
A yet-to-be-identified vandal suspect has been electrocuted while attempting to tamper with a power installation belonging to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) in Enugu.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at the Akonobi 500KVA Distribution Substation located along Independence Avenue in Independence Layout.
According to the Head of Communications at MEDL, Emeka Ezeh, the suspect and his accomplices had already loosened two intermediate cables and were attempting to remove a third when electricity supply was suddenly restored.
The development led to the electrocution of the suspect, while others reportedly fled the scene with some of the vandalised cables.
Ezeh noted that the presence of missing cables suggests the suspect did not act alone.
The MEDL spokesman described the incident as unfortunate, expressing concern over the increasing rate of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure.
He said such acts not only affect the company’s operations but also disrupt power supply to customers.
“This is a challenge that requires collective action, as vandalism significantly impacts service delivery,” he said.
Ezeh urged residents to remain vigilant and support efforts to protect public infrastructure, stressing that customers are critical stakeholders in safeguarding electricity facilities.
He added that the incident should serve as a deterrent to individuals involved in vandalism.
The remains of the suspect have been evacuated by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and deposited at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) morgue.
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