On Wednesday evening, Ujunwa Okechukwuma, a mother of two, was electrocuted, while her children, Louis and Onyinyechi, are currently hospitalized in critical condition following an electrical spark at a transformer situated within a market in the Mowe area of Ogun State.
Although some members of the community reported three fatalities, including a pregnant woman, the state police command clarified that only Okechukwuma was electrocuted, with five others sustaining injuries, including her two children.
Among the other victims of the electrical incident are Shuaib Saheed, Zainab Babatunde, and Okiki Azeez, who suffered varying degrees of injury due to the transformer spark.
Locals revealed that officials from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company had warned shop owners about fallen electric cables on the rooftops of some shops, near a recently installed electric pole following a recent rainstorm, advising them to avoid the area.
One resident and witness of the unfortunate incident, Mrs. Aina Oloponda, informed our correspondent, “According to them (IBEDC officials), the rainstorm had brought down a high-tension cable, which subsequently landed on the roofs of several shops. They had arrived to address the issue a few hours before the sparking incident. Approximately 30 minutes after their departure, the power was restored.
“We were taken aback when the power supply was reinstated despite fallen poles and wet cables still in place. Shortly after concerns were raised about this, the sparking occurred, leading to screams and panic. Regrettably, three individuals lost their lives, and numerous others are hospitalized.”
Additionally, another observer, Mrs. Akinremi Bisi, recounted that IBEDC officials had cautioned shop owners against displaying their merchandise too close to the electric poles and had warned them about the hazards of placing iron roofs beneath the poles.
“They (IBEDC) officials visited our shops approximately three months ago to express concern about some shop owners’ extensions encroaching upon the area designated for high-tension electric poles.
“They also cautioned about the potential hazards associated with extending traders’ shops toward the high-tension electric poles. However, following Sunday’s rainstorm, some cables fell onto the roof of a shop. They arrived to address the issue prior to the incident.”
The State Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, verified the incident to our correspondent on Thursday, stating that only one person was electrocuted while five others sustained injuries.
“A woman was electrocuted, and her two children are currently undergoing treatment in the hospital. Three other individuals sustained various injuries and have also been hospitalized for treatment. Community stakeholders have convened to devise a solution to address all illegal power connections in the market,” she explained.
A similar occurrence took place in the Papalanto community within the Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, where an electric transformer exploded, resulting in the death of nine-year-old Pipeloluwa Taiwo and injuring his sister, Jomiloju Taiwo.
Our correspondent noted that IBEDC purportedly restored power supply to the community shortly after a power outage, which led to a spark and subsequent explosion.