Suspected power cable thief electrocuted in Edo
A suspected power cable thief has been electrocuted at the Etete Injection Substation of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Electricity Plc in Benin City, Edo State. Daily Trust gathered that the yet-to-be-identified suspect allegedly entered the substation on Monday night in an attempt to steal power cables but was electrocuted during the operation. The […]
A suspected power cable thief has been electrocuted at the Etete Injection Substation of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Electricity Plc in Benin City, Edo State.
Daily Trust gathered that the yet-to-be-identified suspect allegedly entered the substation on Monday night in an attempt to steal power cables but was electrocuted during the operation.
The remains of the suspect were evacuated by operatives of the Etete Police Division.
Speaking with journalists, BEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen, alleged that vandals had invaded the substation on Sunday and made away with several copper cables.
According to her, the deceased was suspected to be a member of the group that carried out the earlier theft.
She said the suspect was electrocuted after mistakenly cutting what he believed was an earthing cable, which was actually a neutral cable connected to the power transformer, triggering an electrical explosion.
Gbiwen added that the company received a report from members of the public that a suspected vandal had been electrocuted after allegedly returning to the facility to continue stealing cables.
She appealed to host communities to help protect critical power infrastructure and expressed concern over the growing incidence of vandalism across the company’s franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti.
According to her, the destruction of electricity facilities has continued to disrupt power supply and inflict huge financial losses on the company.
Also speaking, the Regional Head, Technical, Benin South Region, Engr. Afebogbe Oguezor, said preliminary findings indicated that the suspect likely gained access to the substation by scaling the perimeter fence despite security measures at the facility.