In a cautionary tale shedding light on the dangers of electrical vandalism, a 17-year-old junior secondary school student, Sunday Adegbulu, from Akure, Ondo State, recounts a harrowing experience that left him electrocuted and severely burnt while attempting to steal cables from an electricity transformer.
Adegbulu, along with two accomplices, embarked on their second operation to vandalize electrical installations, with the intention to sell the stolen cables for a sum of N25,000 to a sponsor named Mr. Abubakar. Their previous attempt involved stealing electrical installations from an uncompleted building.
However, their plans took a tragic turn on April 28 when they targeted the transformer. Ignorant of the imminent danger, Adegbulu and one of his accomplices approached the transformer, unaware that electricity would be supplied to it. As they began cutting the cables, an unexpected surge of electricity surged through Adegbulu’s body, leaving him with severe burns.
Following the incident, Adegbulu was apprehended by the state security outfit, Amotekun, and paraded along with 45 other suspected criminals involved in various criminal activities across the state. The state commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, emphasized the importance of their patrols in curbing criminal activities and highlighted the significant role of community members in providing timely information to aid in arrests.
Adeleye also revealed that Adegbulu’s arrest led to the identification of nine other members of the gang involved in electrical vandalism, including their godfather who remains at large. Additionally, the security outfit has been tackling cases of kidnapping, cultism, house lifting, and shop burglary, with the majority of arrests attributed to community members providing crucial information.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with electrical vandalism and the broader implications of criminal activities on community safety and infrastructure. As authorities continue to crack down on criminal networks, they urge citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to ensure the safety and security of their communities.
