A yet-to-be-identified man has narrowly escaped mob lynching after allegedly attempting to steal electricity cables from a power distribution pole in Goru village, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday morning when the suspect climbed an electricity pole to remove cables, only for power supply to be restored unexpectedly while he was carrying out the alleged operation.
An eyewitness, Malam Usman Goru, said they woke up to discover the man dangling from the top of the electricity pole under circumstances that initially raised concerns among members of the community.
According to him, residents later learned that the man had allegedly climbed the pole to steal electricity cables during a power outage.
He said the sudden restoration of electricity exposed the suspect to a potentially fatal electric shock, leaving him injured and stranded on the pole.
“We woke up in the morning and saw a man on top of an electricity pole. We were told that he had climbed up to steal the cables, but the power supply returned unexpectedly,” Goru said.
The eyewitness, who described the incident as shocking, alleged that the suspect was known in the community for his involvement in similar nefarious activities, although the man’s identity had yet to be officially established.
Goru disclosed that community elders promptly alerted the police and personnel of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), who arrived at the scene and rescued the injured man.
He said the timely intervention of the authorities helped prevent the situation from escalating after some residents, angered by the alleged attempt to vandalise electricity infrastructure, gathered to attack the suspect.
According to the eyewitness, the residents attempted to beat the man while he was being transported to a hospital for medical attention.
However, police personnel intervened and dispersed the crowd, averting what could have resulted in a mob killing.
The suspect was subsequently taken for medical attention following the injuries he reportedly sustained from the electric shock.
The incident highlights the dangers associated with the alleged vandalisation of electricity infrastructure, which can expose perpetrators to serious injury or death and disrupt power supply to affected communities.
It also underscores the risks of mob violence, as the police intervention prevented residents from taking the law into their own hands.
As of the time of filing this report, the identity of the suspect and his condition after being taken to the hospital had yet to be officially confirmed.
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