A suspected cable vandal has been electrocuted while attempting to sabotage a power substation in Enugu State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at the Akonobi 500KVA Distribution Substation located along Independence Avenue in Independence Layout, operated by MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited.
According to the company’s Head of Communications, Emeka Ezeh, the lifeless body of the yet-to-be-identified suspect was discovered within the facility after the failed vandalism attempt.
Preliminary findings suggest the suspect was not acting alone.
He and his accomplices reportedly succeeded in removing two intermediate cables and were working on a third when electricity supply was suddenly restored—leading to his fatal electrocution.
His partners are believed to have fled the scene with the stolen cables.
Ezeh described the incident as unfortunate and raised alarm over the growing wave of attacks on power infrastructure.
He noted that such acts not only cut into the company’s revenue but also disrupt electricity supply to customers.
“This is a battle we must all fight together. Once these installations are vandalised, entire communities suffer power outages,” he said.
He urged residents to stay vigilant and support efforts to protect critical infrastructure, expressing hope that the tragic death would deter others from engaging in vandalism.
The remains of the deceased have been recovered by the police and deposited at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital morgue.
Vandalism continues to plague Nigeria’s power sector, with the Transmission Company of Nigeria recording over 130 cases of infrastructure damage in 2025 alone—highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the industry.
