A yet-to-be identified man was, yesterday, electrocuted while vandalising a power transformer on Poly Road, Ureje community, Ado Local Government Area, Ekiti State.

 The community members told newsmen that some Muslims saw a ladder hanging on the up riser connected to their transformer at about 6.20a.m., after their early morning prayer in a nearby mosque. The community said they thought officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BDEC, had come to repair the faulty transformer which had packed up since December 24, 2014.
 They added that though some vital parts of the transformer had been stolen in the past, they were surprised to see the body of a strange man lying dead by the transformer. According to the community’s spokesman, Alhaji Jamiu Babalola, “it was then we knew that the electrocuted man would have been the thief that has been cannibalising the transformer. “Since December 24, 2014, we have not had power in this community because the thieves have vandalised the transformer, carting away vital parts. They even pulled down the up-riser.”
 When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of BEDC, Ekiti State, Mr. Kayode Ilori, said that the deceased must have started his illicit business very early, “but unfortunately for him and fortunately for us, power suddenly got to the cables and that must have electrocuted him.” Officers from Odo-Ado Police Station, who were at the scene, disclosed that a mobile phone and some electrical appliances were recovered from the deceased.
They promised that investigations would be conducted with a view to finding out accomplices of the deceased. Meanwhile, they took the corpse and ladder away from the scene.