No fewer than 105 persons have died from electrocution in Nigeria in the last nine months while over 65 others have sustained varying degrees of fatal injuries.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in the Osun region disclosed this on Tuesday.
Speaking during a community engagement forum organised by the Osun region’s electricity distribution company, Mr. John Samuel, the region’s Health, Safety and Environment Officer, attributed the deaths and injuries to electricity mishap during the period under review.
He said the number of casualties had been on the increase because of nonchalance to basic safety measures by electricity consumers.
According to Samuel, despite aggressive campaign against the act by IBEDC, many people have remained in the habit of locating their shops and kiosks under high tension wires or near electrical installations.
Samuel said the development had led to the unnecessary loss of lives and properties.
He, therefore, warned that the company would henceforth wield its big stick against anyone caught contravening safety measures guiding movement near electrical installations.
Also speaking, Osun Region Branding and Communication Officer of the IBEDC, Kikelomo Owoeye, said the meeting was called to deliberate on already identified challenges militating against steady power supply.
Owoeye said the challenge of energy theft has hampered efforts by the company to improve electricity infrastructure.
She, however, advised community leaders to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to fish out those perpetrating the acts.
In their separate remarks, the Region’s Technical Officer, Salami and the Osogbo Business Hub Commercial Manager of the company, Mr. Dele Falade, said power supply to the state would improve when people began to pay commensurate amount for the energy supplied to them.
They assured of better services and quicker response to distress calls, demanding the cooperation of community leaders to fish out economic saboteurs stealing energy and electrical installations across the region.
