FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited has confirmed the arrest of two people suspected of vandalising a transformer at the Urunkpuke Distribution Substation in Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The company said the suspects, identified as Nonso Okolodile and Emeka Onyeugwo, both from Nimo, were arrested by members of the Nimo Vigilante Group following a report from FirstPower’s feeder manager in the area.
According to FirstPower, the suspects were subsequently handed over to the police and taken to the Nimo Divisional Police Station, where they were being held for preliminary investigation.
The company said it had requested that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for further investigation into the alleged vandalism.
FirstPower also said a tool allegedly used by the suspected vandals, along with parts of the damaged electrical equipment, was recovered at the scene.
The company described the Urunkpuke transformer as an important distribution asset serving customers in the community and warned that vandalism of electricity infrastructure can disrupt power supply and create additional costs for repairs and restoration.
The arrest comes days after FirstPower raised concerns about the increasing rate of vandalism across its network in Anambra State. The company said it had recorded at least 73 major cases between January and September 2026.
FirstPower said such incidents affect households, businesses and other users by causing power interruptions while also increasing the company’s operational and maintenance costs.
The electricity distributor urged residents and community leaders to report suspicious activities around transformers, substations, poles, cables and other electrical installations to the appropriate authorities or through its whistleblowing channels.
The company said it would continue working with security agencies and community groups to protect its infrastructure and ensure that anyone found responsible is dealt with according to the law.