Sad! Transformer Explodes & Kills Pregnant Woman, Five Others in Abuja

Residents of Tundunwada area of Lugbe, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja were thrown into great sadness after a transformer exploded and killed six persons including a woman that was heavily pregnant.

According to Punch, reports have it that the expectant woman recently moved into the area where the fatal accident took place and about 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.

It was also learnt that the transformer was on fire for about 10 minutes during which it sent devastating electric current to some residential apartments in the area, at around 9 pm on Saturday.

READ ALSO: Tragic: Nursing Mum & Baby Electrocuted… Baby Survives, She Dies

The officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company were seen investigating the incident and pacifying the residents in the locality.

Information gathered also revealed that the expectant 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 neighbors to her death.

The young boy was said to have been taken to a Catholic church pending when his father, who is a resident in Lagos, would arrive in Abuja.

Geoffrey Atoh, a 24-year-old, whose friend, Joseph Terva, was 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.

The 6-year-old boy, Destiny Okolo 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.

“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,” she said.

A survivor, Donald Terlumun, said he was dozing in his room when he heard screams from 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.”

Terlumun who sustained a swollen face and some cuts, stated that he had spent N20,800 on hospital bills.

His neighbour, Nathaniel Nyinjo, blamed Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC for the incident, saying they had visited the community and promised to compensate the injured.

He said: “The AEDC has already admitted its fault and promised to visit us during the Sallah holiday. But if they failed to compensate the injured and the families of the deceased, they should forget about restoring power around here and we will take them to court.”

There were conflicting reports about the number of the dead. While a community leader, Felix Omeje, put the number of the dead at six, the community’s chief security officer, Geoffrey Ukeje, said he personally took three dead bodies to the hospital, noting that only four persons were injured.

Omeje blamed the AEDC for the tragedy, attributing the explosion to a wrong connection by the power firm.

The Head, Corporate Communications and Community Relations, AEDC, Oyebode Fadipe, said investigation had commenced into the incident.

He declined to speak about compensations for the victims until the cause of the accident had been established and a decision taken by the management.

Photo credit: Punch