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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A yet to be identified man’s attempt to steal armoured cables from a transformer in Mgboaba/NTA area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, ended in tragedy as he was electrocuted.
The man was said to have gone for the operation around 3am on Thursday. It was gathered that there was a blackout and the man was in the process of stealing the cables when electricity was suddenly restored.
An eyewitness told newsmen that the man was severely burnt, adding that they heard a loud sound at the transformer as soon as electricity was restored.
“It was around 3am when the transformer sparked with a loud sound. We thought it was the normal sound we hear sometimes.
“But in the morning when I was going to work, we heard that somebody that went to cut armoured cable died inside the transformer.
“So, I and some people went there and we saw the dead body. All his body was burnt like charcoal,” the eyewitness said.
Another eyewitness, who gave his name as Chika, said the man is known within the community.
“He used to sell water to people around this area,” he said.
It was gathered that the remains of the man was removed by the police and officials of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company after residents of the area alerted them to the incident.