Two persons have been electrocuted during an attempt to steal solar streetlights at Ogobiri community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Speaking with newsmen on Saturday, a community source said their bodies were discovered in the morning within an area bordering the New Site of the state-owned Niger Delta University and Ogobiri roundabout.
An eyewitness told journalists that the thieves had already unbolted four streetlight poles and were on to the fifth one before they met their demise.
“They had already loosened five solar poles, and they were loosening the fifth pole when the pole fell on the nearby high-tension wires. Unfortunately, there was power and they got electrocuted,” the eyewitness said.
He said one of the thieves was severely burnt and died instantly, while the other one could not be recognized as he was burnt to ashes.
According to him, the ashes were still at the scene of the incident at about 11:30 am; it had the form of a human being.
The other body was taken away to the mortuary while the fallen streetlight poles were still lined up beside the road.
It was gathered that stealing of streetlights was rampant in the area and that the incident would help reduce the growing crime.
When contacted for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Musa Mohammed, said he was yet to receive the report.
The PUNCH
