A yet-to-be-identified man has been electrocuted while vandalising electricity equipment belonging to FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited at Ogechukwu Street, Awka, the Anambra State capital.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at a transformer substation in the area. The suspected cable thief had reportedly finished cutting a cable when a heavy explosion occurred, resulting in his immediate electrocution.
The lifeless body was discovered on the substation floor, while personnel of FirstPower assessed the situation.
A press statement by FirstPower’s Head of Communications, Izunna Okafor, confirmed the incident and urged residents and community leaders to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities near electricity installations.
The statement said, “FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited confirms an unfortunate incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Ogechukwu Street, Awka, involving the electrocution of a suspected vandal. Preliminary reports indicate that a heavy explosion occurred at a transformer substation within the area.
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Upon further assessment, it was discovered that the explosion resulted from unlawful tampering with FirstPower’s electricity network infrastructure by a suspected vandal dressed in security uniform. The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have been contacted, evacuated the corpse from the scene, and commenced further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Reacting to the incident, FirstPower Managing Director, Okechukwu Okafor, condemned vandalism and electricity theft, highlighting the danger such acts pose to both perpetrators and the public.
Okafor appealed to residents to report suspicious activities via WhatsApp or SMS on 08161652465 or to the nearest security agency. He added that protecting power infrastructure is a shared responsibility and reaffirmed FirstPower’s commitment to delivering safe and reliable electricity while working with security agencies to safeguard its network.