Darkness:Residents jubilate after crash of four electric poles

Traders and residents living around Shonola Street, opposite, Excellent Hotel Aguda Titun, Ogba Ikeja, on Tuesday danced for joy after four electrical poles crashed to the ground, plunging the community into darkness.

According to many of them, their dancing and happiness was because the poles did not kill or harm anyone. They said they shuddered just imagining the horrible death a victim would have suffered it any of poles had fallen on someone.

Incidentally, most of the poles in the area were said to have been fixed after one fell and killed two people in 2010.

One of them said: “Do you know that houses could have ignited with fire if any of the poles had landed and crashed on buildings.”

It was gathered that people at the area on Tuesday, began to run helter-skelter, frantically calling and looking for their ward, kids and loved ones,  fearful more poles would fall and electrocute people.

They explained that the rainstorm which occurred on Tuesday brought down the electric poles in around 4: pm.

Mr. Ayo Adetugbo, an elderly man in the street, said: “The poles were fixed in 2010 after high tension wire fell and killed two people. The contract was awarded to a woman to erect electric poles in the area, but the work was done awkwardly. We noticed that the holes dug to hold the poles were not deep enough. We complained, but the contractor said that was what the depth they were asked to dig. They argued that the cable at the top would hold the poles to stand. We succumbed and God the havoc did not claim any life.”

Another resident, Mr. Adepoju Idowu, said: “ The rain started around 4pm. When it was around 4:30pm, it became windy and kept increasing with force. Everybody had already moved into their various houses when we suddenly heard sounds of the poles crashing heavily to the ground. We thank God it was after everyone had dashed into their homes. What would we be saying if it was during the rain such havoc occurred? This road is a very one. Motorists, bicycle and tricycle riders used to drive pass every time. ”

Mrs. Temidara Oluwatosin also complained about the poles. She said: “The poles are beside drainages. The drainages are not in good condition. We are however pleading with the government and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) to come to our aid because we do not know when power supply would be restored in the area.”