A suspected vandal has been electrocuted while tampering with an exposed live wire in order to steal it from a transformer substation at Commissioners’ Quarters in Damaturu, the Yobe capital.

Blessing Tunoh, communications officer, Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), made this known in a statement issued in Yola on Saturday.

Ms Tunoh said that the company’s regional manager, operations, visited the scene alongside the maintenance officer after receiving the report of the incident.

She said that the suspect’s body was evacuated from the substation by the Damaturu police patrol team codenamed: “Operation Haba Maza,” and taken to the Damaturu Teaching Hospital.

The company’s spokesperson said that the relatives of the deceased came and identified the deceased’s corpse on arrival at the hospital and claimed it.

“Investigation revealed that the deceased attempted to use his shirt to shield himself while tampering with an exposed live wire during the illegal act.

“Unfortunately, contact with the live cable led to his instant electrocution but the transformer was not damaged, and no further vandalism was reported,” she said.

Ms Tunoh quoted DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the police public relations officer, Yobe command, as saying that the deceased had attempted to steal the power assets at about 1:00 a.m.

“There was a power outage when the suspected vandal entered into the transformer substation but was suddenly electrocuted when power was restored.

“His lifeless body was discovered in the early hours of the morning by residents on their way to the mosque for morning prayers.

“The incident was promptly reported to the Maisandari ‘B’ Division of the Police Command in Yobe, which deployed personnel to evacuate the body.

“We will continue to support the YEDC in protecting their installations and prosecuting arrested vandals who damage power infrastructure and disrupt services,” she quoted Mr Abdulkarim. 

(NAN)