Suspected cable vandal electrocuted to death in Jigawa

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A suspected vandal died after he was electrocuted while allegedly attempting to cut a high-tension cable along the Ringim-Sintilimawa Road in Jigawa State.

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The incident comes weeks after suspected vandals reportedly overpowered security guards and stole 12 metres of armoured cable from a transformer at Government Unity School, Ringim, plunging the school into darkness.

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PUNCH gathered that Jigawa State has witnessed an increase in attacks by suspected vandals on critical public infrastructure in recent times.

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Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said in a statement made available to PUNCH on Sunday that the suspected electrocution occurred after a distress call reported a motionless body along the Ringim-Sintilimawa Road.

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According to the police spokesperson, the incident occurred on July 31 at about 9:00 am.

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“That on 31/07/2026 at about 0900hrs, a distress call was received that a body was seen lying motionless along Ringim to Sintilimawa Road,” Adam said.

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He added that operatives responded immediately.

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“On receipt of the report, the patrol team from Ringim rushed to the scene,” he said.

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Adam said officers observed severe burn injuries on the victim.

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“It was observed that there were burns on both hands, the chest, and the pelvic area of the body,” he added.

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He said items believed to have been used in the act were recovered from the scene.

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“Hand gloves, a hacksaw, and some sacks were discovered at the scene,” Adam said.

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The police spokesperson said preliminary findings suggested that the deceased was electrocuted while attempting to vandalise an electric cable.

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“It is suspected the person was electrocuted while trying to vandalise the electric cable,” he said.

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“The body was removed to the hospital, where it was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” Adam added.

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He said efforts were ongoing to establish the identity of the deceased.

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“Effort is on to identify the identity of the corpse. The case is under investigation,” he said.

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Adam warned residents against vandalising critical infrastructure.

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“The Command urges residents to desist from tampering with electrical installations and to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station,” he said.

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He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting public assets.

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“The Jigawa State Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and will prosecute anyone found culpable in such criminal acts,” the police spokesperson said.

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Residents of the area, who spoke to PUNCH in separate telephone interviews on Sunday, expressed shock over the incident.

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A trader, Mallam Lawal, who said he uses the route daily, said, “We heard the sound and later saw police at the scene. It is sad because vandalism is destroying our electricity.”

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Another resident, Haruna Illa, a farmer from a nearby village, said, “I was going to my farm when I saw the body and tools on the ground. People said he wanted to cut cable and got shocked.”

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A commercial driver, Ibrahim Danladi, who plies the Ringim-Sintilimawa route, said, “We have been suffering power outages. If this is true, then vandals are putting their lives at risk and also affecting communities.”

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