Man cutting transformer cable electrocuted in Edo

A young man suspected to be an electric cable vandal has been electrocuted in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was gathered that the residents of the community woke up to the corpse of the suspect dangling on two electric poles that housed a transformer in the area on Monday, January 29, 2024.

A resident of the area, who declined to be named, disclosed that the deceased cut the cable beneath the transformer and packed it aside.

The resident said luck ran out on the suspect when he climbed up to cut the four long cables that connect the transformer to the low-tension wire as power was restored to the area.

He said: “We were surprised to wake up this morning to see a corpse dangling on the electric poles.

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“We saw some cables he cut but he also climbed up to cut the long cables to connect the low tension lines.

“It means he was caught up when the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) restored light to our area at midnight.”

He said officials of the BEDC in the area later came to evacuate the corpse.

The Chief Technical Officer of the BEDC, Jonathan Lawani, who confirmed the incident, said information on the matter was received on Monday morning.

Lawani said: “We got the information about the incident this morning and we have confirmed that the suspected vandal is not a staff of BEDC.

“We want to use this incident to sound a strong warning to the public. Everyone must stay away from BEDC installations.”

The Edo State Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, however, said he was yet to be briefed about the incident.

The Star