By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – A suspected electricity transformer vandal has been burnt to death by a mob in Calabar, Cross River State.
Converseer gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday morning at about 6:30am at Palm Street by Target, Calabar South.
According to sources, the suspect, an unidentified male, was caught trying to steal armour cables and other valuable items from the transformer at the junction.
“Someone raised an alarm and a group of people came out. They set him ablaze by the roadside,” the source said.
Reacting to that suspected Jungle Justice, the Cross River State Police Command said that before a patrol team could get to the location, the mob had already lynched the suspect.
According to the statement by ASP Sunday Eitokpah, spokesperson of the Command, “The incident of suspected mob action occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 10th March 2026, at about 6:30 a.m. at Palm Street by Target Junction in Calabar.
“Preliminary information indicates that an unidentified male, alleged to be involved in vandalising a transformer, was reportedly apprehended by a mob and subsequently burnt to death before the arrival of the Police.
“Upon receiving the information, a Police patrol team swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the burnt corpse was found in front of the transformer. Items recovered at the scene include an old model electricity meter box, a piece of copper wire, and electric cables, suspected to be vandalised materials.
“The Local Government authorities and Environmental Health Services have been contacted for the evacuation of the corpse.”
“The Command wishes to state clearly that mob action or jungle justice is illegal and unacceptable, and members of the public are strongly advised to hand over suspects to the Police for proper investigation and prosecution rather than take the law into their hands.”
The statement added that “investigation is currently ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved in the mob action.
“Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses.”
Converseer reports that cases of transformer vandalisation is becoming rampant in the state in recent months.
Photo Credit: Tom Alims
