Suspected Cable Thief, Electrocuted While Vandalizing Pole Inside UNZIK Awka, Anambra

A yet-to-be-identified man has been electrocuted near the Faculty of Education building, close to the Department of Economics of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State.

The suspected cable thief was said to have finished cutting a cable from a high-tension pole before he was electrocuted as power was suddenly restored by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.

An official in the university who craved anonymity because he was not authorized to do so, said, “We came this morning and found the body suspended from the electric pole at a transformer point in the area of the new Faculty of Education building, close to the Department of Economics.
“Evidence showed he was almost done cutting a high-tension cable before electricity was restored by the EEDC and he got electrocuted.“EEDC officials, policemen, and officials of the Safety Department of the university were on the ground as the body was being retrieved around 11am today (Tuesday). I witnessed the retrieval but wish to remain anonymous.”The incident is coming barely a week after an unidentified man also died in similar circumstances after attempting to vandalise electricity cable from a transformer in Amawbia, near Awka.

The state Police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, could not confirm the incident as of the time of filing the report.

But reacting to the development, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, lamented the continuous attacks on electricity installation across the South-East.

(Punch)