Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In Calabar, Cross River State, an unidentified man believed to have vandalised an electricity transformer was burnt to death by a mob early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Palm Street near Target Junction in the Calabar South Local Government Area, after residents and local vigilantes confronted the suspect over alleged theft of power infrastructure.
Eyewitnesses reported that the man, estimated to be in his 30s, was seen dismantling components of a transformer that supplies electricity to several streets in the area. Residents raised the alarm, prompting a group of people to intervene. The suspect was seized by the crowd and subsequently set ablaze by the roadside before police could arrive.
Police confirmed the incident and said that when officers arrived, the mob had already carried out the killing. The suspect’s burned body was found in front of the transformer, along with an old electricity meter box, electric cables, and a piece of copper wire believed to have been removed from the facility. Local authorities worked to evacuate the body from the scene.
The Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, condemned the mob action, describing it as illegal and unacceptable. He emphasised that jungle justice undermines the rule of law and urged the public to report suspected criminals to the police for proper investigation and prosecution. An investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible.
This incident is the second mob killing linked to alleged transformer vandalism in Calabar within a month. In early February, another man accused of vandalising a transformer was similarly set ablaze by a crowd, highlighting growing community frustrations over power theft in the city.
Electricity supply challenges in Cross River and surrounding areas contribute to the intensity of local reactions. Prolonged blackouts, sometimes lasting over six months due to damaged or removed transformers, have disrupted daily life, hampered small businesses, affected water supply, and heightened insecurity, fueling community anger toward vandals.
While residents express frustration over repeated power failures and vandalism, law enforcement officials stress that vigilante justice is not a lawful response. Authorities continue to urge the public to allow the justice system to address criminal acts and to cooperate with police investigations to ensure accountability through legal channels.
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