A suspected vandal in connection with the vandalism of a transformer belonging to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) has been found dead in Eket, Akwa Ibom.

Confirming the incident to journalists in Eket on Saturday, the regional manager of PHEDC, Anthony Etim, said the incident happened at the transformer on Party House Road in the Ikot Ibiok area.

He said the incident happened Wednesday, March 19, at about 3:00 a.m. at Ikot Ibiok village in Eket.

Mr Etim said the lifeless body of the suspect was found beside the transformer, and the crowd gathered in the vicinity identified the deceased, saying he lived in the Mkpok area of Eket.

He said the police later took the corpse away and decried that the incessant activities of vandals in the area had plunged many PHDC customers into darkness in the area.

“We have been telling the communities to be watchful of their electricity facilities, and we have been telling the entire PHEDC franchise about the need to safeguard their installations.

“There are vandals around, and they are not far; they are within. I thank God that PHEDC officials have been vindicated.

’’He is not our staff and has no link to our staff on this matter,” Mr Etim said.

He, however, could not give the exact number of cases of vandalised transformers in Eket but said, ‘’There are quite a good number of cases of vandalism across the board in the area.’’

Mr Etim advised the customers and community leaders to watch over their electricity installations and do all in their power to protect them against vandals.

(NAN)