FOOD VENDOR ELECTROCUTED IN UMUAHIA (PHOTOS)

It was massive tears at Okpara Square, Umuahia city centre as people watched as a middle aged woman was early Thursday, electrocuted.

An eye witness disclosed that before her death, the woman who was identified as Turuchi (Onyenaturuchi) from Ubani Ibeku was an assistant food vendor who was about to be free next week.

The eye witness who was also a neighbour said the incident happened at about 11am when the overhead high tension electric wire cut and fell on the iron spikes holding the pole under which the woman and her principal sell food under a large umbrella.

The woman was said to had finished easing herself and was leaning on the pole when the people in and around there heard a big bang and flash, sticking the woman to the spike wire.

“The wire fell on its own and all the iron around the place became charged with current and the woman being in contact with the iron spike was shocked”, the witness said.

All attempts to save the woman proved abortive as even the ground around her was electrically charged.

“She was pleading and calling for help, while all her efforts three times to detach herself was not possible as the current keep pulling her back”, the source said.

The source further explained that the staff of the EEDC were notified immediately and they came and disconnected the power.

However, the woman was certified dead at FMC Umuahia later and brought back to the scene of the incident.

Another young man, an eye witness also, said he came to buy food and soft drink when the incident occurred.

According to him, he was there with three others when “something fell on the roof with the sound of thunderous rain.

“The three other boys ran out immediately but I waited to be sure of what the matter was and the safe direction to run to.

“Then, I also ran out of the large umbrella. I turned to see what actually happened, it was then we saw that it was high tension electric wire.

“All the while the woman was still there. I wondered why she remained behind and asked why she was still there, is it that she cannot run or what, yet she did not move.

“It was at that moment that I noticed sparks of light in the iron and chain around where she was sitting”.

He said the owner of the food joint tried to drag her out but was also shocked, so she left her.

At the time of filing the report the owner of the food joint was said to have gone to report to the police and the relations of the woman while the remains was wrapped and left lying in the place.

The police public Relations officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident adding that investigation would be carried out.

However people have called on EEDC to review its cables that have lasted for years.

According to an eye witness, the woman couldn’t have been electrocuted if the insulator separating the two ends of the spike cable is functioning as the cut wire on touched the cable before the insulator.