An unidentified young man accused of vandalising an electricity transformer in Calabar, Cross River State, has reportedly been lynched and burnt by an angry mob.
The incident marks the second case of mob justice linked to alleged transformer vandalism in the area within one month.
On February 10, 2026, another unidentified man was reportedly set ablaze after being accused of committing a similar offence in the same neighbourhood.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday at Palm Street, near Target Junction in Calabar.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect was apprehended by residents, with members of a local vigilante group reportedly joining the crowd before he was set on fire. The mob had dispersed before police operatives arrived at the scene.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, said a patrol team was immediately deployed to the area after receiving a distress report.
He said, “Upon receiving the information, a police patrol team swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the burnt corpse was found in front of the transformer.
“Items recovered at the scene include an old-model electricity meter box, a piece of copper wire, and electric cables suspected to have been vandalised.”
Sunday added that officials of the local government and the Environmental Health Services were contacted to remove the corpse.
He, however, warned residents against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that mob justice remained unlawful.
“Mob action or jungle justice is illegal and unacceptable.
“Members of the public are strongly advised to hand over suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution,” he said.