A suspected electricity cable thief was found dead early Tuesday morning in Aba, Abia State, after allegedly being electrocuted while attempting to vandalise a power installation. The man, believed to be about 35 years old, was discovered hanging lifeless on a transformer stand along Omuma Road in the heart of the city.
This marks the third such incident in Aba in less than three months, sparking renewed fears and conversations about the growing threat of electricity infrastructure vandalism across the commercial city.
The exact time the latest electrocution occurred remains unclear. However, residents believe the man may have been electrocuted late Monday night or in the early hours of Tuesday while trying to tamper with the transformer cables.
By daybreak, a crowd had gathered at the scene on Omuma Road, watching in shock and horror as the body dangled from the transformer stand — a grim reminder of the dangers of illegal interference with live electrical equipment.
This incident follows two other similar cases in recent weeks. On July 24, 2025, a man was electrocuted while attempting to vandalise a transformer at Ehi Road, also in Aba. In May 2025, a suspected vandal met a similar fate at Ogbo Hill, another part of the city.
This pattern is raising serious concerns among residents, utility workers, and security agencies in the state.
Residents who spoke to journalists at the Omuma Road scene expressed frustration and fear over the increasing number of attacks on power installations in the city. Many blamed the repeated blackouts and poor power supply in some parts of Aba on these acts of vandalism.
“We are suffering because of these people. They break transformers, steal wires and oil, and leave entire neighbourhoods in darkness,” said Mr. Chinedu Uche, a trader who lives nearby. “Now they are paying with their lives, but the damage they do affects everyone.”
Another resident, Mrs. Ngozi Opara, called for stricter security and surveillance around all power installations in the area.
“These installations should be properly fenced and guarded. If we continue like this, more lives will be lost, and our power situation will keep getting worse,” she said.
While some residents showed no sympathy for the victim, calling it “a consequence of criminal behaviour,” others urged authorities to carry out thorough investigations to confirm whether the deceased was truly attempting to vandalise the transformer or if foul play was involved.
“It’s easy to assume he was a thief, but let the police and power authorities do a proper investigation. We need to be sure,” said a man who gave his name as Pastor Timothy.
Electricity distribution companies have long warned against vandalism, citing the risks it poses not just to the vandals but also to the community. Vandals often steal copper wires, transformer oil, and other valuable components, sometimes plunging entire areas into darkness for days or weeks.
A spokesperson from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which supplies power to Abia and surrounding states, said in an earlier statement that the company loses millions of naira annually due to vandalism of its equipment.
“These acts affect our ability to supply stable electricity to customers. More importantly, vandals risk death or serious injury. We keep warning people, but it continues,” the official said.
In response to the incident, local authorities are being urged to increase patrols around power installations and to work closely with communities to track and report suspicious movements.
In 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported over 500 cases of vandalism across the country. With rising youth unemployment and economic hardship, such incidents have remained frequent, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
Under Nigerian law, tampering with electrical installations is a criminal offence punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both. In some cases, suspected vandals face charges related to destruction of public property, endangerment, and even manslaughter if their actions lead to wider public harm.
Unfortunately, most vandals operate at night, making it difficult for security operatives to track or stop them in time.
For now, residents of Aba are left shaken by another tragic scene and the lingering question: how many more lives will be lost before the trend is stopped?
The police are expected to remove the body and begin an official investigation into the incident.
