Man in police net for vandalising transformer in Calabar

In Cross River State, Nigeria, a 36-year-old man named Peter has been apprehended for allegedly vandalizing an electricity transformer in Calabar. The incident occurred early Monday morning, with the suspect arriving at the scene with burn injuries following a loud explosion that disrupted electricity supply in the area. Residents reported the explosion around 2:21 a.m. on October 12, 2026.

Upon receiving the report, officers from B Division in Calabar responded to the scene and rescued the injured suspect, subsequently taking him to the station before transferring him to a hospital for medical treatment. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect had previously identified individuals to whom he sold items and had admitted to committing acts of transformer vandalism earlier.

Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, determining the extent of the alleged criminal activity, and identifying any additional individuals potentially involved.

The Commissioner of Police for Cross River State, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, emphasized the threat that vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure pose to public safety and essential services. He urged residents to report suspicious activities related to transformers, electricity cables, and other public utility installations to their nearest police station instead of confronting suspected offenders themselves.

It is important to note that the suspect remains entitled to the presumption of innocence under the law, and investigations are ongoing.