BEDC official electrocuted during 'illegal' duty in Ondo

BEDC official electrocuted during 'illegal' duty in Ondo

Personnel of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), were gripped with grief at the weekend as one of their colleagues, a middle-aged man, was electrocuted in the course of duty in Ondo State.

The late BEDC official, who was simply identified as Kola and working at the administrative headquarters of Ondo West Local Council, met his untimely death when trying to connect a new building to a nearby power pole.

The unfortunate incident occurred at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) located at Itanla, along Ondo-Akure Highway, where the father of three lost his life.

A source, who lived in the area but pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the deceased attempted to connect a new building to the nearby BEDC utility pole.
According to him, the lifeless body of the BEDC employee was seen hanging on top of the electrical pole located in front of the new building.
He noted that BEDC officials came with their company van, alongside police officers from the Igba Divisional Police Station, notable members of Electrical Contractor Association of Nigeria (ECAN) and other sympathisers, to remove the body from the pole.

Some residents of the area described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the deceased had been a known figure in the community for rectifying problems with electricity, especially connecting owners of new buildings to the national grid.

While speaking on the development, the Business Manager of the Ondo Business District BEDC, Chris Enuamaka, an engineer, confirmed the report of the incident.

Though he explained that he was on an official assignment outside the community, he said the firm's officials had briefed him.Enuamaka claimed that the victim, who was a casual worker of the BEDC in the area, was on an illegal duty to the area before the unfortunate incident occurred.

He emphasised that the company would release an official statement on the matter as soon as investigation into the incident was concluded. The senior police officer, who led his team to the scene, said the body of the late BEDC employee would be deposited at the morgue of the Ondo State Specialist Hospital as soon as arrangement was concluded between BEDC and the deceased family.

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