Power cable electrocutes four children in Ondo

Tragedy struck in the Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the electrocution of four children in the area.

It was gathered that the kids were electrocuted after an electric cable fell on the metal container shop inside which the deceased were playing.

A source disclosed that two of the four victims were siblings who visited their aunt for the Easter holiday in the community.

The source further disclosed that the kids were rushed to the hospital where they later gave up the ghost.

“The electric cable fell on the container inside which the children were playing. They were rushed to the hospital, but there was no sufficient oxygen they could use for five of them.

“Four later died but the case of the sixth child was not serious as she can walk and talk.

“The remaining two were taken to Trauma Centre in Ondo for treatment.

“One has been discharged, but the second child has been referred to OAU Teaching Hospital for treatment. Two of the victims came for holiday with aunt,” the source said.

The tragic incident was confirmed by the Ondo State Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami.

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Odunlami said: “Yes we can confirm the death of the four kids. An electric cable fell while they were inside a container. We have commenced investigation into the matter.”

In his reaction, the Corporate Affairs Manager of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Ondo State, Michael Barnabas, said the incident was fatal because the metal container shop was under the high tension electric cable.

Barnabas said the electrocution of the children would have been avoidable if there was nothing under the electric cable.

He said: “Sadly, we received information about the electrocution of four little children within our network in Ile-Oluji due to an 11kv line that snapped.

“According to information available to us, the children were in an iron container shop that was directly under an 11kv line that snapped which led to their electrocution when they had contact with the wire.

“The deaths would have been avoidable if there was nothing within the 11meters right of way statutorily required for such line.

“As a company, we condole with the families of the children because life is very sacred and should not end prematurely this way.

“While we don’t have the powers to relocate people directly living or trading under our electricity lines, we shall be very brutal in disconnecting such customers from the public power supply and ensure they never have access to it again which would probably lead to them relocating voluntarily out of the harm’s way. By this, we believe we can prevent future occurrence of similar sad incidents in future,” Barnabas stated.

The Star