“A YET-TO-BE-IDENTIFIED VANDAL SUSPECT ELECTROCUTED WHILE ATTACKING MEDL FACILITY”

In the early hours of Tuesday, the lifeless body of a yet-to-be-identified vandal suspect was discovered within the premises of the Akonobi 500KVA Distribution Substation, a facility belonging to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL), located along Independence Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu.

The deceased, alongside his accomplices, had reportedly succeeded in loosening two intermediate cables from the Substation and was in the process of removing the third when electricity supply was restored, resulting in his electrocution.

The Head of Communications, MEDL, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who disclosed the incident to journalists, described it as unfortunate.

According to Ezeh, it is presumed that the deceased did not act alone, as two of the vandalised intermediate cables were missing from the scene, an indication that his accomplices had fled with them.

He expressed concern over the increasing rate of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure within the network, noting that such activities not only impact the company’s revenue but also adversely affect the quality of service delivered to customers.

Ezeh called on customers to remain vigilant and collaborate with the company to prevent acts of vandalism that result in significant inconvenience.

He further emphasised that vandalism remains a major challenge, which cannot be effectively addressed without the active support of customers, who are critical stakeholders.

“It is a battle we must all fight collectively because once these installations are vandalised, customers served by them are severely impacted,” he said.

“It is hoped that the death of this young man, who paid the ultimate price with his life, will serve as a deterrent to others involved in such criminal activities.”

The remains of the electrocuted suspect have been evacuated by officers of the Nigerian Police and deposited at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) morgue.