A 40-year-old staff of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company, Adebowale Ogunbawo has died of electrocution while fixing a high-tension transformer at Dopemu area of Lagos state.
As gathered by GIOTV, the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, 7th September 2021 while he was working on a transformer at Oke Street, Dopemu, Lagos.
Adebowale is said to have been electrocuted after power was restored in the area, which ultimately sent tons of voltage his way, jolting him to fall from the transformer before striking his head on a container.
Adesoji, a resident of the area said a last-gasp effort was made to save Adebowale but he was confirmed dead by a doctor at Orile – Agege General Hospital where he was rushed to.
According to Adesoji, some technicians of the power distribution company who were on duty had disconnected power in the area, which led Ade, who wasn’t part of the said team to quickly take advantage of the situation by working “unofficially” on the high – tension transformer after being contracted by some residents.
“The death was a result of carelessness. From what we gathered, he took advantage of the presence of some power distribution operators, who were working in the area. It appeared that those people had permission for their operation, but he used that opportunity to work on the transformer.”
“While he was carrying out his work, he did not know that the people who obtained a permit to work had completed their job and moved to switch on the power supply in the area.”
“It was when they switched power on that the guy, who was still working on the transformer, got electrocuted.”
“The connection he was trying to do got him electrocuted. When the electric current grabbed him, he fell from that height and landed on a container. He hit his head on iron and died,” Adesoji disclosed.
When contacted, the head of Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Felix Ofulue, commiserated with the family of late Adebowale Ogunbawo and disclosed that the company is presently conducting an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding Adebowale’s death. “It was a rather unfortunate situation. An investigation is currently ongoing internally to establish the circumstances that led to the electrocution,” Mr Felix said.