Two electrocuted by PHCN high-tension cables

The high tension cable and the damaged vehicle.

A high-tension cable belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria on Thursday killed two occupants of a building located on Aladelola Street in Ketu, Lagos.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, Yekini Osijirin and Garba Memuna, were killed after the wire fell on them.

Osijirin, who is an employee of PHCN was said to have been attempting to salvage his car from burning around 5am when the incident occurred. It was learnt that it was in a bid to save him that Memuna was also electrocuted.

A neighbour, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “From what I heard, after the wire sparked, a Peugeot 404 in the compound caught fire and Osijirin rushed out of his flat to move his Toyota Corolla, which was parked close to the burning vehicle.

“He accidentally touched the naked wire by the wall and he died. Memuna, who is the security guard, thought he could save Osijirin who was on the floor. He was also electrocuted in the process.”

The incident caused a stir in the area as commercial motorcyclists and other residents flooded the compound to see what had happened, causing a traffic snarl in the area.

Osijirin, who is a father of two, was described as an easy-going man and a devout Muslim. All efforts to speak with his family proved abortive.

Memuna’s friends took his corpse for burial shortly after the incident.

One of Memuna’s friends, Alhaji Isiaka Askandra, said he (Memuna) had been working in the compound for over 20 years.

He said, “Memuna has four children in Niger Republic and he has been here for at least 20 years. Everyone knew him in the area because he also had a kiosk where he sold cigarettes, biscuits and other petty goods. He was a nice man. We will bury him today (Thursday).

Some youths in the area, however, berated PHCN  for the incident, saying that the manner with which the wires were installed was not right.

One of the youths, Moses Adekunle, said, “If you look at the poles, you will notice that these high-tension wires can snap lose at any time. Just last month, a similar incident occurred on Oluyombo Street in this same area but no one died.”

The Public Affairs Manager, PHCN Ikeja Distribution Office, Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, could not be reached for comment. However, a senior official who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said efforts were being made to change electrical equipment so as to forestall a recurrence.

PUNCH