Police in Cross River State have arrested a 36-year-old man identified as Peter over alleged vandalism of an electricity transformer in Calabar.
The suspect was reportedly found with burn injuries after a loud explosion from the transformer disrupted electricity supply to the area in the early hours of Monday.
The police said residents, including one Emmanuel, reported the incident at about 10:15 a.m. on October 12, 2026, stating that they heard the explosion at approximately 2:21 a.m.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, officers from B Division, Calabar, who responded to the report, rescued the injured suspect and took him to the station before conveying him to a hospital for medical attention.
The statement said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly identified individuals to whom he sold items and reportedly admitted to previous acts of transformer vandalism in the area.
It added that investigators were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, determine the extent of the alleged criminal activity and identify other persons who might be involved.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, warned that vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure threatens public safety and disrupts essential services.
He urged residents to report suspicious activities around transformers, electricity cables and other public utility installations to the nearest police station rather than confront suspected offenders.
The police said investigations were ongoing, stressing that the suspect remained entitled to the presumption of innocence under the law.