A 17-year-old boy, Sunday Adegbulu, who claimed to be in JSS 3 at Commercial Secondary School, Akure, survived electrocution while cutting transformer cable in Owo, Ondo State.

He survived second degree burns on his limbs when power was restored to an electricity transformer while cutting the cable illegally at night.

Sunday confessed to the crime that he was cutting the cable so that he and his accomplices could sell it.

He was rescued and taken to the hospital by his accomplices.

Parading the suspect, Corps Commander of Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye disclosed that the Sunday was burnt when power was suddenly restored to the transformer while cutting the cable.

He said the suspect was part of a syndicate that specializes in stealing electricity cables and selling same to unsuspecting public.

According to him, Sunday was rushed to three different hospitals before he was admitted in a hospital.

He disclosed that the gang moved the suspect out of Akure to another location when they discovered that they were being trailed by detectives from Amotekun Corps.

The teenage suspect was later arrested by Amotekun Corps and later discovered that his accomplices were planning to eliminate him to prevent him from giving them away if arrested.

The Corps Commander said: “Of particular note is a set of criminals that engage in vandalization of electricity transformers. Fate cut up with one of them, Sunday Adegbulu, who is 17 years old. Unfortunately, while cutting the cables, power was restored and burnt half of his body.

“After a lot of trailing, we arrested him because the moment it happened, he was rushed to three different three hospitals.

“When they got wind of the fact that detectives from the Amotekun Corps are on their trail, they moved him out of Akure. We also trailed him to the location and brought him in a very terrible state.

“He was to be killed so that he will not reveal his sponsors. We had to revive him, brought him to the health facility of the corps and we spent a lot of money to make him come back to life.

“He was able to tell us about nine other members of the gang, including their godfather who is on the run. We are on the trail of the godfather.”

Fielding questions from newsmen, the suspect disclosed that it was his second outing with the group.

He confessed that he had earlier been arrested for the same offense a couple of months ago.

No fewer than 44 other suspects were arrested with Sunday for different crimes including kidnapping, burglary and vandalization.

The arrests were outcome of the round-the-clock patrol of the formation across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Akogun Adetunji Adeleye said: “Out of this 45 suspects, seven are already in court but we needed them to throw light on our ongoing investigation.

“So, we sought the leave of the court to allow us few more days which was granted. That’s why they’re part of these 45 suspects. As soon as we complete investigation, all of them will be taken to court to face the full wrath of the law.

“We also have one Jubril, a suspected kidnapper who was arrested a couple of weeks ago but was released on bail, and within 48 hours of his release, the residents and traditional ruler of his village called us that three people were to be kidnapped by the gang of this same suspect but we were able to apprehend them.

“It is of note that the security organization that arrested him is still going on with the court case on the initial kidnap case. Now, he was arrested for another one.”

The Amotekun Corps Commander, therefore, appealed to the people of the state to continue to join hands with the formation by reporting any suspicious movement in their areas to the Amotekun Corps or any nearest security agency for prompt action.

He said: “I want to appeal to the people of Ondo State that the government is resolute in guaranteeing the safety of their lives and prosperities.

“But we also want to appeal that they give us timely and accurate information to work with.

“More than 70 percent of these criminals were apprehended due to the timely information that we got.” (Daily Independent)