A suspected cable vandal has died after being electrocuted while allegedly trying to cut a high-tension electricity cable along the Ringim–Sintilimawa Road in Jigawa State.
The incident comes just weeks after suspected vandals reportedly overpowered security guards and stole about 12 metres of armoured cable from a transformer at Government Unity School in Ringim, leaving the school without electricity.
Jigawa has recorded a growing number of attacks on public infrastructure in recent months, with electricity facilities among the most targeted.
Confirming the latest incident, the spokesperson for the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said officers received a distress call on July 31 at about 9:00 a.m. after a motionless body was discovered along the Ringim–Sintilimawa Road.
A police patrol team immediately visited the scene and found the deceased with severe burns on both hands, the chest and the pelvic area.
Officers also recovered a pair of hand gloves, a hacksaw and sacks believed to have been used during the attempted vandalism.
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect was electrocuted while attempting to cut the high-tension cable.
The body was taken to a hospital, where a doctor confirmed the victim dead.
Police said efforts are ongoing to identify the deceased, while investigations continue.
The command warned residents against tampering with electricity infrastructure, urging members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public assets and prosecuting anyone involved in acts of vandalism.
Residents described the incident as shocking and expressed concern over the continued destruction of electricity infrastructure.
A local trader, Mallam Lawal, said people heard a loud sound before police arrived at the scene.
“It’s unfortunate because vandalism is making electricity problems worse for everyone,” he said.
Another resident, Haruna Illa, said he saw the body and the tools while heading to his farm.
“People said he was trying to cut the cable when he was electrocuted,” he said.
A commercial driver, Ibrahim Danladi, also lamented the frequent power outages in the area, saying acts of vandalism not only put lives at risk but also disrupt electricity supply to entire communities.
