A tragic incident has rocked the Nibo community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where a male Point of Sale (POS) operator was electrocuted after a high-tension power line snapped and fell directly on him in front of his shop.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, sent shockwaves through the community. Eyewitnesses say the victim was standing in front of his kiosk—located directly beneath the high-tension cable—when the wire broke and landed on him.
As of Tuesday morning, his lifeless body remained at the scene with the electrical wire still draped over it, intermittently emitting smoke and sparks, creating panic among residents and passersby.
A video of the horrifying scene has gone viral on social media, showing the man’s charred body lying on the ground, still in contact with the sparking wire.
The footage has triggered an outpouring of grief and outrage online, with many calling for greater enforcement of public safety regulations.
Though the full identity of the deceased is yet to be confirmed, locals report that he was recently married, compounding the tragedy of his sudden and preventable death.
Reacting to the incident, the Managing Director and CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Dr. Ossy Onuko, described the incident as both “unfortunate and avoidable.” He reiterated the agency’s longstanding warnings against trading or building under high-tension power lines.
“This is something we have consistently campaigned against,” Onuko stated on Tuesday. “Sadly, this tragedy is another painful reminder of the dangers of building or trading beneath high-tension wires. It is a suicide mission to operate a business in such hazardous areas.”
He lamented the frequent criticism ACTDA receives on social media whenever it attempts to enforce compliance.
“We are often vilified and accused of being harsh, but our aim has always been to protect lives. Unfortunately, we’ve now lost a soul to something that could have been prevented.”
Onuko called on the public to take safety as a personal responsibility and to support government efforts by spreading awareness within their communities.
“No precious life should be lost to such a careless and avoidable death. This should serve as a deterrent to others,” he said. “Let this painful loss ignite a collective consciousness that safety cannot be compromised.”
Residents of the area have continued to express sorrow and disbelief at the tragedy. Many are now urging the state government and electricity distribution companies to urgently conduct safety audits and remove all illegal structures under power lines across the state to prevent future occurrences.
