Suspected vandal dies cutting high-tension cable in Jigawa

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.

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.

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 Metro on Sunday that the suspected electrocution occurred after a distress call reported a motionless body along the Ringim-Sintilimawa Road.

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

“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.

He added that operatives responded immediately.

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

Adam said officers observed severe burn injuries on the victim.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam warned residents against vandalising critical infrastructure.

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

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

“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.

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

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.”

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 the cable and got shocked.”

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.”