How perm sec, 4 others were electrocuted

The people of Gombe metropolis were thrown into mourning last Friday when an electrical power surge following a high-voltage from a transformer led to the death of five people and leaving 13 others injured. A Permanent Secretary in the Gombe State Civil Service, Muhammad Yusuf Kulani, and four other people were electrocuted, while 13 others […]

The people of Gombe metropolis were thrown into mourning last Friday when an electrical power surge following a high-voltage from a transformer led to the death of five people and leaving 13 others injured.

A Permanent Secretary in the Gombe State Civil Service, Muhammad Yusuf Kulani, and four other people were electrocuted, while 13 others sustained various degrees of injuries, when a live electricity cable fell on their respective houses in Tudun Wadan Pantami area of Gombe Metropolis.

The deceased, Kulani, was the Permanent Secretary at the state’s Ministry of Special Duties and Regional Integration.

Neighbours said late Kulani was electrocuted while opening the gate of his house, unknown to him a live electrical wire had fallen on the gate, as a result of a high-voltage surge from a nearby electricity transformer.

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At the time of the incident, the deceased was holding his nine months old daughter, who survived the incident and is currently on admission at a hospital receiving treatment.

According to his colleagues, the late Kulani returned home after attending official functions, including one in the entourage of the Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau.

His nephew, Adamu Abubakar Kulani, said his uncle was with his family in his sitting room when he heard shouts from his neighbour asking for help.

“He was holding his nine-month-old, so he stepped outside to check what was happening.

“Immediately he touched the gate, unknown to him, a live electrical wire had fallen on it, the voltage threw him away, as well as his daughter. He passed away on our way to the hospital. While the daughter is still receiving treatment at a hospital,” he said.

Adamu attributed the incident to faulty wires that distributed electricity to the area.

“The electricity was restored around 11pm, but it was low voltage; it went off and was later restored with high voltage. All the people who died were either escaping from flickering following the electricity surge, or offering to help other people trapped in their respective houses.

“For instance, my friend died while attempting to free his elder brother through the window of his room. He touched the burglar-proof and got electrocuted. There was also a visiting soldier, who died when he stepped out of the room to assist when he heard people shouting for help,” Adamu explained.

According to him, it is not the first time that such an incident has happened in the area.

Bolari Village head blames JED

The Village Head of Bolari, Malam Hassan Garba Bolari, blamed the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) for the unfortunate incident.

He said the incident occurred around 11.45pm after the JED restored electricity in the area.

“My entire house was flickering, and I started shouting, asking my neighbours for help. Some of them were able to enter my compound, and they rescued us by cutting off the electric wire that brought electricity to my house.

“Unfortunately, when we entered my neighbour, late Kulani’s house, to check on him, we found his body on the floor of his compound. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead by medical doctors.

“Apart from him, I also received a report that five other people died due to the same incident.

“Also, 13 people sustained varying degrees of injury from the incident. Almost all the houses in the area were affected; the majority of us slept outside our houses that night,” he narrated.

The village head further complained that the electricity lines that distribute electricity to the area were faulty.

“We have complained to them (JED) several times. If you look at the lines now, you will notice that they have merged. In the event that electricity is restored now, we are going to experience a similar incident.

“We are, therefore, appealing again to the JED to repair these faulty lines. This is the third time we are having such a problem, and whenever we complain to them, they will give us the same excuse that the wires are in a bad condition due to aging, and ask us to find a way of fixing it locally,” Bolari stated.

 

Resident counts losses

A resident of Tudun Wadan Pantami, Alhaji Munkailu Bala Mai Katako, said apart from loss of lives and injuries, the incident had affected electrical appliances in their respective houses.

“My brother, Ishaq, was electrocuted while attempting to open the door to escape from his room when he noticed that the voltage was too high. He died on our way to the hospital.

“There were light showers, but there was no heavy wind. The voltage was too high, and because most of the electrical wires were faulty, in addition to illegal connections by some residents, this led to an overload on the transformer.

“Almost all our domestic electrical appliances have either burned or spoiled beyond repair. And it is a huge loss, considering the number of houses affected,” he said.

Gombe Police

confirm incident

Meanwhile, the Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the electrocution incident.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said that upon receiving the report, officers from the Low-cost Divisional Police Headquarters visited the scene to secure the area and evacuate the victims to the hospital for medical attention.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the unfortunate incident claimed the lives of five people, while 13 others sustained various degrees of injuries,” he said.

DSP Abdullahi assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the surge and ensure accountability where necessary.

“Members of the public are urged to remain calm and cooperate with emergency and investigation teams as efforts are being made to prevent future occurrences,” he said.

 

Gov’t to probe incident

Meanwhile, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic electrocution incident, promising to probe the cause of the tragedy.

In a statement by his spokesman, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the governor described the incident as heartbreaking and a colossal loss, “not only to the immediate families of the deceased, but to the entire Gombe State.

“I received with profound sadness the devastating news of the tragic electrocution incident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, in Tudun Wadan Pantami, which led to the death of five individuals and left several others injured.

“This heart-wrenching incident, reportedly caused by a high-voltage surge from a nearby electricity transformer, has plunged our state into mourning.

“The demise of Alhaji Yusuf Kulani and others in such a devastating incident is deeply painful. Kulani was a diligent, disciplined and patriotic officer who served our dear state with integrity and commitment.

“The loss of such valuable lives, including other promising citizens, is a painful blow not only to their immediate families but to the entire Gombe State.

“Let me assure the affected families and the general public that we will collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the root cause of this tragedy and take all appropriate measures to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from recurring,” the governor remarked.

 

JED expresses sympathy

JED’s acting head of corporate communications, Ms Saratu Aliyu Dauda, said the management was deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident.

She said preliminary investigations indicated that the incident was caused by a high-tension line snapping and making contact with low-tension lines, leading to a voltage supply outside permissible limits.

Ms Dauda stated that the incident occurred at approximately 11.45pm on Saturday, affecting customers connected to the Tudun Wada Pantami Distribution Transformer 2 in the Riyel community of Gombe metropolis.

“We are closely monitoring the situation, particularly in light of the palpable tension within the affected community, and will continue to provide accurate updates as more facts emerge,” she said.

According to her, a thorough evaluation to determine the root causes is ongoing, “and appropriate corrective and preventive measures will be implemented to avoid a recurrence.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families impacted by this tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”