An unidentified man suspected of attempting to vandalise an electricity transformer in Calabar, Cross River State, has been burnt to death by an angry mob.
The incident is the second reported case of mob action over alleged transformer vandalism in the same area within a month. On February 10, 2026, another yet-to-be-identified suspect was reportedly lynched and set on fire following a similar allegation in the neighbourhood.
The latest occurrence was said to have taken place on Tuesday at Palm Street, close to Target Junction in Calabar.
Residents in the area said the suspect was apprehended by locals, while members of a neighbourhood vigilante group reportedly joined others in the crowd that attacked and eventually set him ablaze before the arrival of security operatives.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, said officers were immediately dispatched to the scene after receiving information about the incident.
According to him, the police patrol team arrived to find the burnt remains of the suspect lying in front of the electricity transformer.
He disclosed that items recovered from the scene included an old electricity meter box, copper wires, and electric cables believed to have been tampered with.
Sunday added that the local government authorities and the Environmental Health Services were contacted to evacuate the corpse.
He also cautioned residents against engaging in mob justice, emphasising that such actions are unlawful.
He urged members of the public to hand over suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution instead of taking the law into their own hands.
