Electric Cable Thief Electrocuted in Edo

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

A yet-to-be-identified middle-age man  was yesterday electrocuted while trying to vandalise the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) transformer on Airport Road in Benin-city, Edo State.

The deceased was said to have succeeded in cutting some of the cables before he was electrocuted.

The incident, which reportedly occurred at the early hour of yesterday, drew the attention of passers-by as many were seen raining curses on the deceased for being the one responsible for their perpetual darkness all these while, adding that he, at last, has met his Waterloo.

One of the residents of the area, who called himself Mr. Emmanuel, blamed the action of the deceased on the get-rich-quick syndrome.

He said the deceased would have still been alive if he had cultivated the act of due diligence in making money, adding that life is a process.

Emmanuel said despite losing his life in the process, he has also succeeded in putting the entire community in total darkness.

He called on the youths to shun the act of quick money and look for a genuine way of making money to avoid unwanted death.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, the BEDC acting Head of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen, decried the incessant act of energy theft and vandalism of the company’s facilities within its franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti, adding that the people must learn to desist from it because the act is so dangerous.

She said despite the company’s regular warning to members of the public to desist from vandalism and energy theft, some persons still indulge themselves in it, adding that this singular act of vandalism has thrown the entire community into total darkness.

Gbiwen appeal to residents in where BEDC’s facilities are located to be vigilant and help safeguard them from vandals so that the company can serve them better.