Tragedy struck in Ogobiri community, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as two individuals attempting to steal solar-powered streetlights were electrocuted.
According to local sources, the incident occurred near the Niger Delta University’s new site, close to the Ogobiri roundabout. The bodies of the suspects were discovered early Saturday morning.
A community member explained that the thieves had already dismantled four streetlight poles and were attempting to loosen the fifth one when disaster struck. The pole reportedly fell onto nearby high-tension wires that were live at the time, resulting in their electrocution.
“One of them was severely burnt and died instantly, while the other was completely burnt to ashes,” the source disclosed. “As of Saturday afternoon, the ashes of one thief were still at the scene, while the other body had been taken to a mortuary.”
The scene reportedly still bore evidence of the incident, with the dismantled streetlight poles lined up along the road.
The theft of streetlights has become a recurring issue in the area, raising concerns among residents about the need for enhanced security measures.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. The state police spokesperson, ASP Musa Muhammad, confirmed that he had not received a report of the incident as of the time of filing this story.
