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.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to provide a cost-of-living allowance and tax relief for workers, to help mitigate the impact of rising petrol prices caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

In a statement titled “Save Nigerians From This Shock: An Urgent Relief Has Become Necessary,” signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the labour union said the fuel price surge has intensified economic hardship for Nigerian workers and households.

The NLC’s demands include:
Immediate wage award and cost-of-living allowance (COLA) for all workers.

Expansion and overhaul of the Cash Transfer programme to ensure transparency and adequate inflation-adjusted support for vulnerable citizens.
Immediate tax relief for workers, including suspension of regressive taxes on low-income earners and taxing the informal sector fairly.

The union criticized the government for leaving Nigerians exposed to volatile global oil markets, worsened by the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. It highlighted that domestic refineries have failed to shield citizens from price shocks, despite billions spent on turnaround maintenance.

“The military escalation abroad has sent shock waves through global oil markets. Petrol prices in Nigeria have surged to between N1,170 and N1,300 per litre. Meanwhile, the working class bears the brunt of this global crisis,” the statement said.
Impact on Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector.

The NLC warned that Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector is fragile, with local refining unable to stabilize prices.

The Dangote Refinery’s pricing, aligned with global crude rates, has passed costs directly to consumers, undermining claims that domestic production guarantees stability.

The union urged the government to fully rehabilitate the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries and invest the expected N30 trillion windfall from the Middle East crisis into social programmes for Nigerians.

Following the crisis, Dangote Refinery adjusted petrol prices multiple times in March 2026:
March 2: N774 → N874 per litre
Four days later: N995 per litre
Subsequent rise: N1,175 per litre
Brief reduction due to falling crude prices: N1,075 per litre
Price reinstated to N1,175 per litre amid renewed global crude surge

Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), said the fluctuation will continue as long as the Middle East conflict persists.

He warned that petrol could reach N2,000 per litre if the war continues.
Gillis-Harry also urged the government to establish a domestic energy bank to provide funding for energy-related businesses, citing lack of support from commercial banks.

A total of 385 applicants from Enugu State have been successfully screened in the ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise for 50,000 General Duty and Specialist Police Constables in the Nigeria Police Force.

The exercise is currently taking place at the Enugu State screening centre.

The development was confirmed in a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Monday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, and follows the commencement of the exercise on March 9, 2026, at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess, Agbani Road, Enugu.

Applicants from various Local Government Areas in the state have been screened according to their scheduled portal-assigned dates.

The Commissioner of Police for Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa personally inspected the screening centre.

During the visit, he assessed the ongoing process and interacted with both officials and applicants, emphasizing the importance of transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to the established procedures.

CP Giwa also urged applicants to remain disciplined and compliant with all screening requirements, noting that the exercise is a key opportunity for qualified individuals to serve the nation through the Nigeria Police Force.

The joint screening is being conducted by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Police Service Commission, as part of the nation’s broader effort to strengthen its law enforcement capacity.

This milestone in Enugu marks steady progress in the nationwide recruitment initiative, reflecting the police command’s commitment to a transparent and efficient selection process.