A 23-year-old suspected transformer vandal, Nnaji Chidiebere, has been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command after he was allegedly electrocuted while attempting to vandalise a transformer in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, saying the suspect was arrested on August 17 after community members alerted the police to the incident.
According to Ndukwe, residents discovered Chidiebere trapped inside a transformer along Ogbaike Road, Obollo-Afor, at about 2:20 p.m., prompting them to contact the police.
“Upon receiving the information, operatives of the Command attached to Udenu Police Division promptly mobilised to the scene, found the suspect unconscious with various degrees of burns,” Ndukwe said.
The suspect was immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital, where he was resuscitated before being referred to a specialist hospital for further treatment.
Ndukwe said Chidiebere regained consciousness and identified himself, claiming that he had been alone at the scene.
However, preliminary investigations have allegedly linked him to transformer vandalism in the area.
“Further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of his activities, identify possible accomplices, and facilitate his prosecution,” the police spokesperson said.
The development followed what the Command described as a citizen-supported operation, with the police crediting members of the community for providing timely information that enabled the suspect to be rescued and arrested.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the residents for their prompt intervention and information.
CP Giwa reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting critical public infrastructure across the state, while urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The Commissioner stressed that cooperation between communities and security agencies remained essential in tackling vandalism and other criminal activities capable of disrupting essential services.
