Tragedy struck on Friday in Eruemukohwarien, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, when a widow and his son were electrocuted by an 11KVA high-tension cable.
Mary as the woman was identified and her Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 son, Prince, who was expected to finish his JSS Certificate Exams on the day of the incident reportedly died of electrocution allegedly caused by spark from high-tension cable of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The woman and her two sons, Prince and Oghenekobiruo were inside a container store when the incident occurred and the last boy, Oghenekobiruo, had to run out but the mother and Prince’s elder brother could not make it.
“The high tension cable had been weak and snapped before a fierce fire spark that dropped on the shop killed the woman and her son.
“Most painful, this has become a recurring incident, as less than a year ago, three other individuals lost their lives to similar electrocutions in the same community.”
Also, the secretary of the community, Chief Kingsley Enomate, who spoke to newsmen about the incident, blamed the BEDC for negligence.
He said: “What happened is very sympathetic and unfortunate because lives have been lost again in a similar way.
“About a year ago, we lost three persons in a similar way in this community which is not good for us or anyone that annually we will losing souls in because poor equipments and materials of BEDC.
“After the death of three persons last year, we made all frantic effort to bring the management of BEDC to come and access the situation on ground.
“They came and on the spot assessment was carried out and they promised to change the lines but up till now nothing has been done, the cables, separators, everything about the equipments are very old.
“With what I was told, a mother and a child died in this fire incident and it is very sad and pathetic occurrence.
“The government should come in and prevail on the management of BEDC to change all the cables that have lasted for over a five decades.”
Another eye witness identified as Prevail, also blamed the BEDC for failing to replace the hazardous cables with newer ones.
She pleaded with the government to wade in and support the community in replacing the wires, emphasizing the urgent need to prevent further loss of life caused by the ongoing reliance on old and deteriorating electrical infrastructure.
It would be recalled that in April, 2022, three persons, a Fire Service staff attached to Ughelli Pumping Station, Mr. Daniel Omovwerha, and others were electrocuted by 11KVA cable and many others were injured.
The residents of the community have demanded from the BEDC to replace the outdated cables immediately rather than resorting to temporary fixes.
Meanwhile, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) through its spokesperson, Helen Ogagarue, is yet to respond and make a statement on the incident.
