Snapped Cable Electrocutes PHCN Staff, Security Guard In Lagos

Tragedy struck, yesterday, in Ikosi area of Lagos, after a high tension wire snapped off a pole, electrocuting a staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Limited, PHCN, and a security guard.

Casualty figure would have been higher if not for the residents of the area who were alerted by shout of fire from landlord of the one-storey building, identified simply as Alhaji, at about 5.10 a.m.Also destroyed was a Peugeot 504 vehicle belonging to owner of the compound where the live wire landed, at 34, Aladelola Street, Ketu.

But the guard, simply identified as Garuba, who had been working for 30 years there, rushed out of his shed to examine the landlord’s abandoned vehicle that was on fire, but unknown to him, the fire was caused by a high tension wire which dropped on the vehicle.

In Garuba’s attempt to contain the fire, he reportedly packed some sand and unconsciously stepped on the naked wire which electrocuted him.

Eye witnesses also said the PHCN staff, identified as Mr Oshinjirin, rushed out of his flat, when he heard the shout of fire, with a bucket of water., only to also step on the naked wire.

Both victims were said to have been buried while the PHCN staff’s children aged seven, five and two respectively, were said to have been taken to a relative’s place.