There was pandemonium at Tundunwada, Lugbe a satellite town in Abuja when a transformer exploded and electrocuted six persons, including a pregnant woman who recently relocated to the area.
Another four persons were also said to have been injured during the incident, including a six-year-old boy, Destiny Okolo, who suffered injuries on his face and left ear.
According to Punch, the transformer was on fire for about 10 minutes during which it sent devastating electric current to some residential apartments in the area.
During a visit to the area on Tuesday, it was gathered that the incident happened around 9pm on Saturday.
Officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company were seen investigating the incident and pacifying some residents in the locality.
Findings indicate that the pregnant woman, whose name could not be immediately ascertained, wanted to switch off her fan when she was electrocuted. Her son was said to have raised the alarm which alerted her neighbours to her death.
The son was taken to a Catholic church pending when his dad, who is in Lagos, would arrive in Abuja.
Geoffrey Atoh, 24, whose friend, Joseph Terva, was also electrocuted, explained that the victim was about stepping out of his apartment when he was killed.
“We were outside when the transformer exploded and started burning for about 10 minutes. Everyone was afraid and started running helter-skelter. It was later that I heard that my friend, Joseph, was electrocuted. We rushed down to his house and found that he had died,” Atoh explained.
Donald Dooga, who lost his brother, Joseph Moses, 22, told Punch that his sibling died before they could get him to the hospital.
Dooga said Moses was electrocuted as he was about changing the fuse of his electricity switchboard when he saw the blaze from the transformer.
Little Destiny was recuperating at home but his father said he had spent over N11,000 on medical bills.
His mother said she was on the verandah when she felt electricity current passing through the floor tiles.
Her words: “We attempted to run from the house, but the electric current injured Destiny in the face and behind the ear. Another person, Edwin Joseph, was also injured in the waist.”
A survivor, Donald Terlumun, said he was dozing in his room when he heard screams outside. He added that his room was vibrating and as he made to leave the house, he was jolted by the electric current.
He said, “As I made to step out, the door shocked me and threw me against the wall. I shouted and made for the door again and the next thing was that I was flung outside where I hit my face on the ground. I later opened my eyes to find myself in the hospital.”
Donald who had a swollen face and some cuts, stated that he had spent N20,800 on hospital bills so far.
Many residents are blaming the Abuja EDC for the tragic incident.
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