Police Arrest 23-Year-Old Suspected Transformer Vandal After Electrocution in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man, identified as Nnaji Chidiebere, after he was allegedly electrocuted while attempting to vandalise a transformer along Ogbaike Road, Obollo-Afor, in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

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According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, mnipr, mnisma, the incident occurred on Monday, August 17, 2026, following information provided by concerned members of the community.

The suspect was reportedly discovered at about 2:20 p.m., trapped inside the transformer and unconscious, with various degrees of burns allegedly sustained during the incident.

Acting swiftly on the information, operatives of the Udenu Police Division mobilised to the scene, rescued the suspect and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was resuscitated before being referred to a specialist hospital for further medical attention.

The Police said the suspect regained consciousness and identified himself as Nnaji Chidiebere. During preliminary questioning, he reportedly claimed that he had been alone at the scene.

However, the Command said preliminary investigations have linked him to alleged transformer vandalism in the area, adding that further investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of his activities and determine whether he acted alone or in collaboration with other persons.

The Police also said the investigation would assist in identifying possible accomplices and facilitate the prosecution of anyone found culpable.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, mspsp, smicm, commended residents of the community for promptly alerting the Police.

The Commissioner noted that the timely intervention and credible information provided by members of the public enabled Police operatives to respond quickly, rescue the suspect and place him under arrest.

CP Giwa reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting critical public infrastructure across the state and called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities around electricity transformers and other essential public facilities.

He assured residents that information supplied to the Police would be treated with the necessary confidentiality, while urging communities to continue supporting law enforcement agencies in the fight against vandalism and other crimes.

The suspect remains under investigation as the Police work to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged vandalism and determine the appropriate legal action.