Tragedy struck
on Wednesday, 15th May, and Saturday 19th May, 2013 in Ake and Idumu-Odin
quarters, Igbanke, Orhionmwhon Local Government Area of Edo State, as two young
men were electrocuted and four others seriously injured. Narrating the sad story to Ika
Weekly reporter, Mr. Okoh Mathias, Secretary to Ake community, said “it all
started on Wednesday last week at about 11:30am, when Power Holding Company of
Nigeria (PHCN) restored the light in our area with abnormal voltage, All the
electrical appliance in my house was affected. Later, I heard my neighbours
shouting . It was then we discovered that a Malian residing in our community,
Mr. Abraham Tuare died while trying to open the deep freezer in his room.
He stated that other people who
attempted to open the gates of their houses, were seriously injured by the
abnormal voltage.
According to him “I went to the
PHCN office in my community, and reported the incident to the manager. He
denied that the death and injuries were caused by them. On Saturday of that
same week, PHCN reported to us that they have been able to rectify the faults,
That same day a young welder from Ottah, Mr. Endurance Ogboi was killed after
he tried to charge his phone in his workshop at Idumu-Odin.”
Speaking to newsmen, one of the
victims who escaped death, Mr. Bienose Chukwuyem, a musician, said on
Wednesday, 15th May, while he was trying to open the front gate of his house,
he discovered that his hands and legs were stuck to the gate. He stated that he
was rescued by the intervention of his friend.
As at the time
Ika Weekly team visited Mr. Chukwuyem, he had been discharged from the hospital
and the toes of his right leg has been amputated as a result of the damages
done to him by the abnormal voltage from PHCN.
Another victim,
Mercy James, who said it was an attempt to rescue her four months old baby that she sustained the injuries that affected
her head and legs. Inspite of the serious harms caused the two victims, by the
abnormal voltage, they both thanked God for preserving their lives.
The President of Ake youths, Mr.
Sunday Emuebie described the incident as gross irresponsibility on the path of
PHCN workers. He urged youths of the community to remain calm and shun violence.
Also speaking, the President of
Idumodin community and the Vice Chairman of Igbanke Youths, Hon. Iweka Ukpere,
noted that the persons killed and injured in the tragedy were victims of
mismanagement on the side of PHCN staff, asking that “a situation where
capenters, farmers, welders are employed to do the work of electricians, what
do you expect?”
The youth leader appealed to the
government and well meaning individuals to assist the family of those who lost
their lives and property during the incident.
Some eye witnesses noted that when the incident occurred, high
tension wires fell on low tension wires.
Ika Weekly also gathered that some electronic gadgets of residents in the
community worth millions of naira were destroyed.
Speaking, Dr. Carl Umakhihe, the
Doctor in charge of Government Hospital, Igbanke, said that it was only the
corpse of one of the victims that is lying in the hospital mortuary.
Ika Weekly learnt that since the
incident occurred, the PHCN office at Igbanke has remained locked, The Enogies
in the community, held a meeting last week, calling on the PHCN staff to come
back to their duty post, promising them safety in the community.
The remains of Mr. Abraham
Tuare, the late Malian was laid to rest on Thursday, last week in Agbor, while
that of Mr. Endurance Ogboi is still lying cold at the Government Hospital,
mortuary, Igbanke.
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