
Man 35 electrocuted in Ebonyi

By our correspondent, Abakaliki
A thirty five year old man whose name was given as Mr. Peter Ugochukwu Odom, native of Oyinkwa village in Amachi Community was reportedly electrocuted while erecting a pole opposite military cantonment Nkwoagu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the State.
It was gathered that the deceased, who worked with Ibortic Concrete Investment Ltd, was part of a team contracted to install a new pole in the area. In the course of the exercise, the pole being erected accidentally touched a live high-tension wire, leading to his instant electrocution.
Confirming the incident, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Peter Ibor Chukwuemeka, who also disclosed that the victim was his younger brother, expressed deep grief over the loss.
According to him, the team had been invited by a customer to deliver and erect a concrete pole near the military cantonment at Nkwoagu.
“We were called for the job on Saturday evening, around 4:45 to 5 p.m. The customer assured my boys that power had already been disconnected from the high-tension line in the area. Unfortunately, that information was false.
“While attempting to erect the pole, it mistakenly touched the high-tension wire, and my brother got electrocuted instantly,” he explained.
He further narrated that the victim was first rushed to the military clinic within the cantonment before being transferred to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA II), where doctors confirmed him dead.
Mr. Chukwuemeka lamented that the deceased, who had worked with him for over three years, was a diligent staff and breadwinner of his young family.
In an interview, the victim’s uncle, Mr. Ezeode Samuel confirm the report and described the incident as a great loss to the family, adding that burial arrangements would be decided after consultations.
“Late Ugochukwu peter Odom is a son to my elder sister who is now late and he is the only child to his late mother; very intelligent first class graduate and eloquent boy who’s trying to survive.
“It’s a very sad news to the entire family and the family have confirmed the story just as narrated by his Boss.
“The family has not taken stand until they sit together with his Boss and the customer who engaged them.”
The body of the deceased was said to had been deposited at the hospital mortuary.
When contacted, the State police public relation officer DSP Joshua Ukandu said his office hasn’t received such report.
