A suspected vandal has been electrocuted while allegedly attempting to steal power cables from the Etete Injection Substation of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Electricity Plc in Benin City, Edo state.
Blueprint.ng observed during a visit to the facility on Tuesday July 14, 2026 that the body of the deceased suspect was been removed by operatives of the Etete Police Division.
The Injection Substation, which receives electricity from the transmission network and injects it into the distribution network for onward supply to consumers, showed signs of damage following the failed vandalism attempt.
Speaking with journalists, BEDC’s Head of Branding and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen, said the company received a report that a suspected vandal had been electrocuted after returning to the facility to continue stealing cables.
According to the BEDC spokesperson, vandals suspected to be of the same group had allegedly invaded the substation on Sunday and made away with several copper cables before returning on Monday night.
She said anticipating another attack, the company’s Regional Head, Technical, had directed personnel to remain on alert.
Gbiwen explained, “the suspect was electrocuted after mistakenly cutting what he believed was an earthing cable, but which was actually a neutral cable connected to the power transformer, triggering an electrical explosion.”
She renewed BEDC’s appeal to communities to help protect critical power infrastructure, and described vandalism as a growing menace across the company’s four franchise states.
”The destruction of electricity infrastructure continues to disrupt power supply and impose huge financial losses on the company. I urge residents living close to substations and transformers to be vigilant,” Gbiwen added.
Also speaking, the Regional Head, Technical, Benin South Region, Engr. Afebogbe Oguezor, said preliminary findings indicated the suspects likely gained access by scaling the perimeter fence despite security at the facility.
Oguezor said BEDC is considering reinforcing the fence with barbed wire and other security measures to deter future attacks.
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