A 35-year-old man, Mr. Peter Ugochukwu Odom, has died after being electrocuted while erecting a concrete pole opposite the military cantonment at Nkwagu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, NATIONAL PANEL gathered.
The deceased, a native of Oyinkwa village in Amachi Community, was an employee of Ibortic Concrete Investment Ltd, a construction firm contracted to install the pole in the area.
According to eyewitnesses, the pole being mounted accidentally touched a live high-tension cable, resulting in Mr. Odom’s instant electrocution.
Confirming the incident, the Managing Director of Ibortic Concrete Investment Ltd, Mr. Peter Ibor Chukwuemeka who revealed that the deceased was his younger brother expressed profound grief over the tragic loss.
“We were called for the job around 4:45 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
"The customer assured my boys that power supply to the high-tension line had been disconnected.
"Unfortunately, that information was false,” Chukwuemeka narrated.
“While attempting to erect the pole, it made contact with the live wire and my brother was electrocuted instantly. He was first rushed to the military clinic within the cantonment before being transferred to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA II), where he was confirmed dead.”
Chukwuemeka further described the deceased as a diligent worker who had served in his company for over three years and was the breadwinner of his young family.
The victim’s uncle, Mr. Ezeode Samuel, also confirmed the incident, describing it as a devastating blow to the family.
“Ugochukwu Peter Odom was the only child of his late mother and a first-class graduate. He was an intelligent and eloquent young man trying to survive. This tragedy is a huge loss to us,” Samuel said, adding that burial arrangements would be determined after consultations with the family, his employer, and the client who engaged them.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the hospital mortuary.
When contacted, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, said the command was yet to receive an official report on the incident.
