Man electrocuted while vandalising transformer in Kogi

In a tragic incident that unfolded on Camp Road in Lokoja, Kogi State, a middle-aged man met his demise when he was electrocuted while engaging in acts of vandalism on an electricity transformer.

The individual responsible for the attempted vandalism has been identified as Alfa Olukuluku Kabiru, hailing from Angwan-Masara Street in Lokoja. The unfortunate incident occurred on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Upon notification, the police and officials from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) promptly responded, recovering the victim’s body from the scene and transporting it to a local mortuary in Lokoja.

Reacting to the incident, Engr. Michael Eneromi, the Lokoja Area Officer of AEDC, expressed his concerns regarding the recurrent sabotage faced by the transformer. He revealed that this incident marked the fifth instance of vandalism, with the company having recently repaired the transformer following a previous report from the community.

Engr. Michael explained that a new report of vandalism on the same transformer had been received, prompting AEDC to request approximately N1.9 million for repairs. He expressed relief that this incident cleared AEDC staff from any false accusations of involvement in such criminal activities.

Confirming the incident, SP William Aya, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, informed the public that the unidentified man was apprehended at the transformer site in Paparanda Square, Lokoja, by police operatives. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and his body was subsequently deposited at the hospital.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities and utility companies in protecting vital infrastructure from vandals, urging greater efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.

Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported earlier that Police officers arrested a man for vandalising Lagos bridge railings.