A widow named Mary and her son, Prince, met a fatal fate when they were electrocuted by an 11 KVA high-tension cable owned by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in the Eruemukohwarien community of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.
Eyewitnesses reported that the aged cable broke on a market stall roof, prompting Mary’s desperate attempt to save her son, resulting in a devastating electric shock. The cable’s rupture caused a fire that engulfed the victims, leaving the entire community in mourning.
Regrettably, this is not the first occurrence of such a tragedy in the Eruemukohwarien community. Less than a year ago, three other individuals lost their lives due to electrocution in the same vicinity. Consequently, residents are demanding that the BEDC take decisive action by replacing the outdated cables rather than resorting to temporary solutions.
Currently, the cable responsible for the tragic deaths remains on the ground, raising concerns among eyewitnesses about the obsolete nature of the BEDC’s infrastructure. They stress the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul to ensure the community’s safety, as reported by Tribune Newspaper.
Chief Kingsley Emomate, the Secretary General of the community, expressed deep sorrow over the recurring tragedies and made a heartfelt appeal to the BEDC. He implored the company to replace the outdated cables, recognizing the devastating loss of lives and emphasizing the necessity of preventing similar incidents in the future. Chief Emomate lamented the unacceptable loss of lives due to poor electrical materials provided by the BEDC and urged government intervention to facilitate the replacement of the aged cables, which have been in use for over four decades.