BEDC staffer dies of electrocution in Ondo

Sympathisers at Alagbaka area of Akure, Ondo state at the weekend wept uncontrollably when a staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Compmay (BEDC), Mr. Daisi Isaac Aregbesola was electrocuted and died instantly.

The unfortunate incident which occurred around 5:00 pm attracted the attention of some passersby mostly motorists who tried in vain to save the life of Mr. Daisi whose body was dangling between the high tension cables.

The BEDC worker who had resumed for work as early as possible was said to have been instructed by his boss to rectify a fault on an electric pole in the front of the Zenith Bank, Alagbaka in Akure before he met his untimely death.

Mr. Daisi known as ‘Sapee’ until his death served as an electrical engineer and a contract staff member with the BEDC branch office, Alagbaka and was aged 38.

One of the sympathisers who witnessed the incident told journalists on Sunday that he was attracted to the scene as results of the loud screaming of some passerby.

The sympathiser who also preferred to be anonymous explained that the BEDC worker received a shock from the high tension wire while performing his duty.

“I had barely walked pass the electricity worker when I heard a very loud noise and saw him dangling on the pole.

“It was an unfortunate scene to behold as people rushed down to the ladder to bring the man down from the pole as his body was hung between the wires.

“In fact, it took the BEDC almost an hour to arrive at the scene after the man had died and his body already brought down from the pole by sympathisers”.

Describing what led to the death of Daisi, a source in the company said the victim was working on the fee-der due to some faults detected on the high tension wires that had occasioned the power outage in the area.

Funke Adeniyi, the estranged wife of the deceased also confirmed the incident in a phone chat with journalists in Akure.

Mrs. Adeniyi said that her husband was immediately rushed to the Ondo State Specialists Hospital Akure but was confirmed dead on arrival by doctors.

“A younger brother to my husband called me that he (Daisi) had an accident and I should meet them at the state hospital.

“I was confused and had to rush down but when I got to the hospital, I was told he had a shock on the high tension lines in front of Zenith bank and he died.

“Workers in his office told us that, a boss sent him a message to work on the high tension cables due to some fault on the poles at the Alagbaka area in Akure.

“I asked them that why did they switch ON the light (electricity) when they knew that my husband was working on the pole. So, I am smelling conspiracy”.

She also added that her husband was employed about four years ago and had cognate experience on the job before his unfortunate death.

Efforts to get the reactions of the BEDC management proved abortive as calls were unsuccessful.