Benin City, Edo State — July 18, 2025: A tragic incident occurred in Benin, Edo State, where a man lost his life after being electrocuted while attempting to steal transformer cables.

The event, captured in a video that has since gone viral on TikTok, shows the lifeless body of the man lying near the transformer cage where the theft attempt was made. Reports indicate that the man jumped into the transformer enclosure in a bid to cut and steal electrical cables, but was instantly electrocuted.

Public Reaction

The video’s circulation online has sparked widespread commentary, with many Nigerians on social media expressing shock, frustration, and morbid humour at the unfortunate incident.

Here are some notable reactions from TikTok users:

  • Pillar Jnr: “That wire nah 3 million for market now😂😭.”

  • BIG KHOLE: “Once you chop wire you go first rest small 😂😂.”

  • 𝕀 𝔸𝕄 𝕁𝔸ℂ𝕆𝔹: “E be don gia gia some inside make person translate abeg 😂😂.”

  • TOLANI: “But why do they do this?? How much will they sell the wire to risk yourself like this?? Abeg how much?😭🤣.”

  • 🦅 Fã_vø_ûř 🦅: “Once u chop wire u go con pretend like person way dey sleep make dem nor bill u😂😂.”

  • A-Reece: “If it was successful na woman e go still spend 60% of that money for 😂😂💀.”

Security and Power Infrastructure Concerns

The incident highlights growing concerns over the theft of public power infrastructure, which has led to frequent blackouts and significant repair costs in various communities across Nigeria. Experts have repeatedly warned of the dangers of tampering with live electrical installations.

Location Significance

This event took place in Benin City, a key urban centre in Edo State, where power infrastructure vandalism has been a recurring challenge for both authorities and power companies.