By ABAH SUNDAY
A middle-aged man has lost his life while attempting to vandalise the Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc (BEDC)’s transformer.
The tragic incident happened along Airport Road, Benin City, according to a report.
The man, yet unidentified, had managed to severe some cables before being fatally electrocuted.
The incident which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday drew the attention of bystanders who were shocked looking at the scene.
Passers-by expressed their anger towards the deceased, blaming the persistent power outages in the area on his nefarious activities.
It was a grim confirmation of their suspicions as the thief met his waterloo.
A resident of the area, Mr Emmanuel (aka James Bond 007) attributed the tragic outcome to ‘get-rich-quick’ mentality of the youths.
He stressed the importance of diligence in wealth acquisition, urging youths to pursue legitimate means of earning a living to avoid such untimely death.
The incident underscored the dangers of energy theft and vandalism, as highlighted by Mrs Evelyn Gbiwen, the Acting Head of Corporate Communications at BEDC Electricity Plc.
She lamented the recurring incidents of sabotage within the company’s operational areas across Edo, Delta, Ondo, and Ekiti states.
She said, “Despite repeated warnings from the company, such acts persist, leaving communities in darkness and posing significant hazards to both individuals and infrastructure.”
Mrs Gbiwen appealed to residents to remain vigilant and assist in safeguarding BEDC’s facilities against vandalism and theft, stressing the collective responsibility towards ensuring uninterrupted power supply for all.