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Man allegedly trying to steal cable gets electrocuted as PHCN restores power

A suspected thief has been electrocuted while trying to steal high tension cable at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State.

The tragic incident was said to have happened on Monday near the Faculty of Education building, close to the Department of Economics.

It was gathered that the yet-to-be identified man had finished cutting a cable from a high-tension pole when power supply was out, but he got electrocuted the moment Enugu Electricity Distribution Company suddenly restored power.

His lifeless body was found dangling on the electric pole on Wednesday morning where employees of the electricity distribution company were seen evacuating the corpse.

A university source said; “We came this morning and found the body suspended from the electric pole at a transformer point in the area of the new Faculty of Education building, close to the Department of Economics.

“Evidence showed he was almost done cutting a high-tension cable before electricity was restored by the EEDC and he got electrocuted.

“EEDC officials, police officers, and officials of the Safety Department of the university were on the ground as the body was being retrieved around 11am today (Tuesday). I witnessed the retrieval but wish to remain anonymous.”

This comes barely a week after another man died in similar circumstances when he aattempted to vandalise electricity cable from a transformer in Amawbia, near Awka.

In reaction to the development, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, lamented the continuous attacks on electricity installation across the South-East.