Tragedy struck at the Apata market in Ibadan
yesterday when seven persons, including a pregnant woman and a nursing mother,
were instantly killed when a live high tension power cable of the Power Holding
Company of Nigeria (PHCN) suddenly cut off and fell on traders at the ever busy
market.
The incident, which
occurred at about 7am, affected mostly vegetables vendors as they were busy
transacting their business at the popular Agbekoja section of the market.
Eyewitness
identified the pregnant woman as Tawa and that her mother who was also standing
by was a victim of the dawn electrocution.
However, a
one-year-old baby boy was rescued alive from the scene of the incident while
the baby’s mother, whose identify could not be immediately ascertained was not
as lucky as she died following the impact of the live cable which fell directly
on her. Good Samaritans rescued the infant unhurt from the back of his
electrocuted mother who passed on immediately after the shock.
Many other traders
at the spot sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical
attention.
The rescue mission
was led by a youth leader in the community, Wahab Bamidele and assisted by
other youths in the area while the Apata Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Agboola
Abiodun was also at the head of a team of policemen from the division as they
mounted security surveillance to ensure that hoodlums did not hijack the
incident.
Speaking with
newsmen over the electrocution, the Chairman, Ibadan South West Local
Government Community Development Council, Alhaji Lasisi Bamidele Popoola,
lamented that this was the third time this year that the PHCN high tension wire
at Apata had snapped and fell, explaining that one person was killed in a
similar circumstance in the area sometime last year.
Meanwhile, the
authorities of the Ibadan South West Local Government Council have declared a
three-day mourning for the electrocution victims, and the Apata Market
temporarily closed down to enable the PHCN management effect repairs to the
dislocated high tension wire.
Commercial
activities were totally paralyzed at the ever bursting Apata Market throughout
yesterday as traders immediately put their shops and kiosks under lock and key
following the sad news. Even the commercial bus drivers were not left out as
they momentarily parked their vehicles off the road, in sympathy with the
victims of the early morning electrocution.