Cable vandal electrocuted in Calabar

2026-02-05 - 18:39

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR A 30-year-old suspected high tension cable vandal has been electrocuted in the early hours of Thursday while attempting to vandalise electricity infrastructure around Matrix Filling Station in Calabar. The incident occurred when the suspect, identified as Alkama Mohammed, was allegedly cutting a high tension cable belonging to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company. The deceased, said to be an indigene of Plateau State, reportedly suffered fatal electric shock injuries during the act. His body was later found beneath a concrete electric pole near an uncompleted building in the area. Checks at the scene revealed visible burns and scars consistent with electrocution, particularly on the left wrist and lower abdomen. The body was believed to have fallen from the electric pole after the shock. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Command, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the lifeless body was recovered by police operatives following a distress report. Eitokpah said that on February 5, 2026, at about 5:10 am, the Divisional Police Officer of the Federal Housing Division received information that a corpse was lying at Matrix Filling Station, off Murtala Mohammed Highway, within an uncompleted building beneath a high tension electric pole. According to him, police operatives immediately visited the scene and discovered the body of a male adult. Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was vandalising high tension electric cables when he was electrocuted in the process. He added that the deceased was later identified as Alkama Mohammed from Kwade Village in Quanpan Local Government Area of Plateau State. An iron saw blade suspected to have been used for the vandalisation was recovered at the scene beside the remains. The police spokesperson further disclosed that health workers from the Calabar Municipal Local Government Area were promptly contacted and necessary procedures were carried out, while investigation into the incident continues. The police command warned members of the public against vandalism and other criminal activities that pose serious risks to lives and public infrastructure.