LAGOS, Nigeria – Two employees of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, a leading utility provider in Lagos, met a tragic end in the Obalande area of Lagos Island on Saturday, May 20, 2023, as confirmed by the Lagos State Police Command.
The police received a report of the incident at 5.55 pm on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from an EKEDC staffer.
Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, detailed the tragic event, explaining that it happened while the workers were conducting routine maintenance work on a faulty transformer.
Umaru, 51, was digging to locate a problematic cable of a transformer in the P&T Obalende area when he was tragically electrocuted.
His colleague, Sunday Awaruwa, 48, who rushed to Umaru’s aid, also suffered the same fate.
Hundeyin remarked, “In the process, another colleague named Sunday Awaruwa, who tried to rescue the victim was also electrocuted.”
The police’s response was swift, with detectives arriving promptly to the scene of the accident, capturing the disturbing event with photographs, and facilitating the rescue of the victims.
However, upon arrival at Lagos Island General Hospital, the attending physician pronounced both victims deceased.
The PPRO added, “Their remains were deposited at the IDH Morgue, Yaba for autopsy. Meanwhile, investigation is in progress.”
This tragic incident underscores the inherent risks faced by utility workers on a daily basis, and the need for companies like EKEDC to continue reinforcing safety measures to ensure the welfare of their employees.
As the investigation continues, the entire Lagos community mourns the loss of these two workers and expresses their condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims.
