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.
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.
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