Rita Enemuru, Reporting
DISASTER struck on Monday at Fegge, Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the South-East zone, when three staff of First Power Electricity Company were reportedly electrocuted after an iron pole they were attempting to erect for a water tank fell onto an 11KV overhead electricity line.
The victims, who died within the premises of a two-storey building at No. 123, Old Port Harcourt Road, were Chukwudi Ukwa, Frank Okafor and Somadina Nwabuike.
They were said to have been engaged by a contractor to work on a borehole project for the owner of the property.
According to an eyewitness account, the victims were attempting to erect an iron pole to support a water tank when the pole accidentally fell onto an overhead electricity line, resulting in their electrocution.
“The contractor reportedly arrived at the premises with three workers, who were attempting to erect an iron pole for a water tank when the pole fell onto the overhead electricity line.
“The three men were holding the iron when they suddenly got electrocuted,” the witness said.
Confirming the incident, the Head of Communications at FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Izunna Okafor, described the deaths as unfortunate and renewed the company’s warning against dangerous activities around electricity infrastructure.
Okafor disclosed that police officers from the Fegge Division evacuated the bodies to the General Hospital, Onitsha.
He added that the property owner, identified simply as Mr Steven, was assisting the police with their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Expressing sympathy with the families, friends and associates of the deceased, the FirstPower spokesperson warned that construction, borehole drilling and water tank installation near overhead electricity lines could have fatal consequences when appropriate safety measures were ignored.
“The tragedy points to the grave dangers associated with carrying out construction, borehole drilling, tank installation and other activities close to overhead electricity lines without observing the required safety clearances,” Okafor said.
He explained that long metal objects could conduct electricity when they came into contact with energised power lines, potentially causing fatal electrocution even when those handling them did not deliberately touch the wires.
“An iron pole or other long metal object that comes into contact with an energised power line can conduct electricity and cause instant fatal electrocution, even when those handling it do not deliberately touch the wire,” he warned.
The company expressed concern over recurring safety risks associated with unauthorised construction, trading and other activities close to overhead electricity lines, stressing that many such incidents could be prevented through proper planning and compliance with established safety requirements.
According to Okafor, FirstPower has continued to conduct electricity safety awareness campaigns in markets, motor parks, streets, schools and communities across Anambra State.
He said the campaigns target activities such as traders setting up stalls beneath high-tension lines, commercial tricycle operators loading passengers under power lines and residents undertaking construction projects dangerously close to electricity infrastructure.
He stressed that electricity line corridors were not safe locations for unauthorised buildings, trading stalls, canopies, water tanks, scaffolding or the handling of long metal objects.
Such activities, he said, could endanger not only the people directly involved but also passers-by, neighbouring residents and electricity workers.
Okafor urged property owners to ensure that contractors engaged for borehole drilling, building construction, roofing, water tank installation and other projects identified nearby electricity lines and maintained the required safety clearances before commencing work.
He also called on contractors and artisans to assess their work environments carefully and avoid lifting or erecting metal poles close to overhead conductors without qualified professional guidance and appropriate safety precautions.
Okafor further warned members of the public against touching fallen electricity wires or attempting to move objects that had come into contact with power lines.
“Any suspected electrical hazard should be reported immediately to FirstPower or the appropriate emergency authorities, while people should keep a safe distance from the affected area,” he said.
He emphasised that work around electricity infrastructure should only be carried out by qualified and authorised personnel operating under appropriate safety procedures.
