Residents of Omuma Road, Aba, were on Thursday morning greeted with a grim sight — the body of an unidentified man dangling lifelessly from an electric pole connected to a distribution transformer on the Aba Power network.
The man was reportedly electrocuted while attempting to cut copper wires from the transformer. Eyewitnesses said he was in the company of two other suspected vandals, who fled the scene immediately after the incident, which caused the power line to trip with a loud spark.
Aba Power officials who arrived at the scene had expressed dismay over the incident.
The company’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager, Mr. Ikenna Okwoli, described the act as reckless and dangerous.
Similarly, the Manager, Branding and Communication, Mr. Edise Ekong, lamented the loss of life, stressing that such tragedies highlight the dangers of tampering with electricity infrastructure.
“It is sad to see an able-bodied man lose his life in this way. Unfortunately, this is one of the consequences of unauthorized access and interference with electricity assets,” he said.
Mr. Ekong urged communities to collaborate with Aba Power to protect public infrastructure, noting that only collective vigilance could curb vandalism.
Police officers were said to have retrieved the body and deposited it at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Mortuary, Jubilee Road, Aba.
Residents who gathered at the scene had expressed anger and disappointment, fearing that the failed vandalism could once again disrupt power supply to the area.
Mr. John Ezeonwu, a local food vendor, said: “We only recently started enjoying stable power supply after months of disputes. Now, this unfortunate incident may plunge us back into darkness. I won’t say the man deserved his fate, but it is truly regrettable.”
Meanwhile, Aba Power again has warned vandals to desist from attacking its facilities, stressing that such acts not only cause blackouts but also endanger lives.
