The Police Command in Benue has reported that a suspected vandal, Inalegwu Elias, was electrocuted while attempting to vandalize a Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) transformer in Otukpo.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident on Saturday in Makurdi.
Anene stated that the victim was found dead, hanging on double transformer poles on Saturday morning.
The lifeless body of Inalegwu was discovered dangling at the transformer located at the JAMB office in Otukpo.
They revealed that the incident occurred around 4:00 am on Saturday when public power was restored.
The victim, known for cable vandalism, had succeeded halfway, cutting away several cables with a knife and plier in his possession before JED unexpectedly restored power.
Mr. Adakole Elijah, Head of Corporate Communications at JED, confirmed the incident was reported to the police.
He said, “Yes, it happened yesterday night, and he got electrocuted. It was a transformer belonging to the computer-based testing center for JAMB. So, I can confirm that the electrocution is true.
It was an obvious attempt to vandalize the transformer. We have a high spate of transformer vandalism in Otukpo town here.”
Elijah continued, “The transformer is properly safeguarded; it’s a pole-mounted transformer. So, for someone to climb, it beats my imagination.
That tells you it was deliberate, a clear case of vandalism. I’m sure he went with a very terrible motive, and unfortunately, he has paid with his life.”
