Two officials of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IEDC, were Wednesday, electrocuted by high-tension cables at Kogberegbe Street, in the Isolo area of Lagos State. The officials, identified simply as Aloma and Bode, were said to have arrived at the area on Wednesday at about 2pm to install a transformer in the community.
Aloma, according to reports, had mounted the high tension pole after a telephone call had been made to the office that power should be switched off.
However, as Aloma was working, power was suddenly restored in the area.
One Ololade Ultimate, a resident of the area, told The Punch that Aloma was electrocuted immediately, adding that he spent about one hour on the pole.
“Aloma and his colleagues were not on an illegal duty. They came with the transformer which they wanted to install in the area.
“Aloma made a call to their office that they were about to start working and power was switched off but five minutes after Aloma climbed the pole, power was restored and he was electrocuted,” Ultimate lamented, adding that ‘Aloma’s hand, along with the safety gloves, were cut off by the voltage.’
Speaking also on the incident, another resident, Ibrahim Kazeem, said Aloma’s colleague, Bode, made a call to the office to alert them of the incident.
Kazeem said, “After waiting for about one hour without anyone showing up, Bode called the office again, informing them of his plan to remove the corpse of his colleague.
“They switched off the power again and Bode climbed the pole. By this time, there was a crowd on the street. Women were crying, some people were shouting; there was confusion everywhere.
“Bode climbed up the ladder and started loosening the strap around Aloma’s waist to bring him down. He was there for just a few minutes when power was restored again. He was electrocuted as well.”
At that instance, Bode was said to have fallen off the pole onto the roof of a Christ Apostolic Church after power went off yet again. He reportedly landed on the ground, breaking his neck and he was found soaked in blood.
A third official was reportedly sent from the office, who then safely removed Aloma’s corpse.
Eyewitnesses said Bode was rushed to the Isolo General Hospital, but was rejected. He was then transferred to the Gbagada General Hospital for treatment.
Following the deaths, residents lamenting over the unfortunate incident, blamed the electricity firm, alleging that something was fishy about the incident.
They, however, called for an immediate investigation and urging that the victims’ families be adequately compensated. They called for a thorough investigation into the case and punishment of those found wanting in the discharge of their duties.
Lamenting over the deaths, a tailor, Mrs. Amzat Olabisi, said residents were thrown into mourning.
“Everybody was in tears. It is obvious that somebody was behind what happened to those men. We learnt that they were not the ones that were supposed to do the job, but somebody asked them to go there,” Olabisi said, noting that the power was just coming on and off, as if it was somebody’s toy.
“This was not ordinary,” she added.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirming the incident, said investigation was ongoing into the incident, adding that the police does not suspect any foul play.
“The police were involved in the rescue of the workers. While one died immediately, the second man is recuperating in a hospital.
“We are not saying anybody did it deliberately, but investigation is ongoing. If we find any foul play, we will make it public,” the PPRO affirmed.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Ikeja Electric, Olusola Ayeni, said it was not possible for the company to get to the scene of the incident immediately it got an alert that the officials were electrocuted.
Ayeni stated that every official of the company knew the company’s protocol when going for an assignment and such should not have occurred.
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