Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A suspected vandal was electrocuted while allegedly attempting to steal power cables from the Etete Injection Substation operated by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc in Benin City, Edo State.
When journalists visited the facility on Tuesday, officers from the Etete Police Division were seen removing the body of the deceased from the premises.
The substation, which receives electricity from the national transmission grid and distributes it to consumers through the local network, showed visible signs of damage following the attempted theft.
Speaking with journalists, BEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen, said the company received reports indicating that the suspect had returned to the substation to continue stealing cables when he was electrocuted.
According to her, members of the same suspected vandalism syndicate had earlier invaded the facility on Sunday, carting away several copper cables before allegedly returning on Monday night for another operation.
Gbiwen explained that, anticipating another attack, the company’s Regional Head, Technical, had instructed personnel to remain on heightened alert.
She said the suspect met his end after mistakenly cutting what he believed to be an earthing cable, which turned out to be a neutral cable connected to the power transformer, triggering a powerful electrical explosion.
“The suspect was electrocuted after cutting what he thought was an earthing cable, but it was actually a neutral cable linked to the transformer,” she said.
She described the persistent vandalism of electricity infrastructure as a growing challenge across BEDC’s four franchise states, warning that such criminal acts not only disrupt power supply but also inflict significant financial losses on the company.
Gbiwen appealed to residents, particularly those living near substations and transformers, to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies and BEDC.
“The destruction of electricity infrastructure continues to disrupt power supply and impose huge financial losses on the company. We urge communities to join us in protecting these critical assets,” she added.
Also speaking, the Regional Head, Technical, Benin South Region, Engr. Afebogbe Oguezor, said preliminary investigations suggested the suspects gained access to the facility by scaling the perimeter fence despite existing security measures.
He disclosed that BEDC is reviewing additional security measures, including reinforcing the perimeter fence with barbed wire and other protective installations, to prevent future attacks on its critical infrastructure.
