Police arrest 36-year-old over transformer explosion, vandalism in Calabar

The police command in Cross River State says it has arrested a 36-year-old man identified as Peter for allegedly vandalising electricity infrastructure at Agbo Ntoe Layout, Boulevard Road 2, off Parliamentary Extension, Calabar, Gazette NGR reports.

In a statement Monday, command spokesperson Eitokpah Akata said the arrest followed a transformer explosion in the area. According to him, a resident identified as Emmanuel and others reported to the police that they had heard a loud explosion from the area’s transformer at about 2:21am, after which electricity supply to the area was cut off.

Akata said residents who rushed to the scene found the suspect lying on the ground with burn injuries all over his body. Police officers from B Division, Calabar, proceeded to the scene, rescued the injured suspect and took him to the station, where his statement was obtained before he was taken to hospital for medical attention.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly mentioned individuals to whom he had sold vandalised items, and he reportedly admitted to previous acts of transformer vandalism in the area, Akata said.

He added that investigators were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, determine the extent of the suspect’s alleged criminal activity, and identify any other persons who might be connected to the offence.

The command assured residents that it remained committed to tackling vandalism of critical infrastructure in the state, as investigations into the matter continue.