By Aduku Aruwa
TRAGEDY struck recently in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, when a 14-year-old girl, one Hanatu Saraki, was electrocuted to death as the officials of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were embarking on disconnection of lines in the ancient city.
According to an eye-witness account, the PHCN officials who were on mass disconnection of power lines of defaulters, carelessly left the high tension wires dangling on the pole after the exercise.
It was later gathered that the naked cables sequel to the action of the wind, started having contacts, causing loud electrical spark in the neighbourhood.
This culminated into huge balls of flame from the nearby transformer, with untold effect on the homes in the vicinity.
In the pandemonium that ensued, the confused and helpless Hanatu who had just returned from school, rushed out looking for help. But when help was not available she ran inside to attempt to put off some of the appliances in the house.
She was found dead shortly after, near the kitchen fridge, presupposing that the electrically charge refrigerator may have electrocuted her to death.
When The Graphic visited the family of Hanatu, the victim whose corpse was mangled as a result of the high intensity of electricity current, was lying in the sitting room awaiting police investigation, while the guardian and other sympathizers wailed over the incident.
It was gathered that another victim who escaped electrocution by whiskers was treated at the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, while a group of Chinese workers also narrowly escaped being electrocuted.
Property worth million of naira were reportedly destroyed in the incident, including a 250 KVA Mikano power generating plant belonging to the expatriates, air conditioners and other household appliances were damaged beyond repair.
An eye-witness told The Graphic that the PHCN officials who were working on the disconnection of power lines, took to their heels leaving behind their ladder when they noticed that the spark was extraordinary.
Meanwhile, the Business Manager of PHCN Lokoja, Mazi A.E. Akubuko has described the claims by the victims as unfounded, stressing that it was not possible for electricity current to run through lines that have already been disconnected.
He clarified that it was a mere coincidence that his men were on a disconnection exercise in the vicinity when the incident occurred.
According to him, the problem was caused by a sudden upsurge in power supply, adding that the problem was further compounded by the illegal, faulty and multiple connections carried out by people in the area.
In his words, “It is not possible for power generating plant that was properly connected to the switch board to catch fire even when its switch is off. “It goes to show that the connection was done by inexperienced hands.”
While describing the tragedy as unfortunate, he used the opportunity to appeal to people of the ancient city to stay off high tension cables.