The police command in Cross River State says it has arrested a 36-year-old man identified as Peter for allegedly vandalising electricity infrastructure at Agbo Ntoe Layout, Boulevard Road 2, off Parliamentary Extension, Calabar.

In a statement on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, Eitokpah Akata, said the incident occurred following a transformer explosion in the area.

“On Monday, October 12, 2026, at about 10:15 a.m., one Emmanuel and other residents of the area reported at the police station that they had heard a loud explosion from their transformer at approximately 2:21 a.m. on the same day, following which electricity supply to the area was interrupted,” he said.

He stated that residents who rushed to the scene found the suspect lying on the ground with burn injuries all over his body.

Mr Akata said police officers from B Division, Calabar, proceeded to the scene, rescued the injured suspect and took him to the station, where his statement was obtained before he was taken to a hospital for medical attention.

According to him, preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly mentioned individuals to whom he had sold items and reportedly admitted to previous acts of transformer vandalism in the area.

He added that investigators were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, determine the extent of the alleged criminal activity and identify any other persons who might be connected to the suspected offence.