A tragic incident unfolded in the Kabong community of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau, as a malfunctioning power line operated by the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc. (JED) resulted in the electrocution of eight individuals, with six of them losing their lives. The ill-fated event occurred in the early hours of Saturday, coupled with fires that consumed houses and shops in the locality.
Mr. Istifanu John, the Sole Administrator of the Jos North Local Government Council, expressed his deep sorrow as he visited the scene. He deemed the incident “very unfortunate” and highlighted the additional losses it imposed on the state. John earnestly called upon JED to address any power line issues that might have contributed to this devastating nightmare.
John stressed the avoidable nature of the tragedy, lamenting that those who perished were within the safety of their own homes. As a representative of the government, he emphasized the collective pain felt by the community and urged JED to rectify any faulty power sources promptly to prevent such immense losses in the future.
The administrator extended his condolences to the grieving families and urged residents to exercise caution in the use of electrical appliances.
Speaking on behalf of the local traders, Mr. Solomon Odidi revealed that seven shops were destroyed in the incident. He attributed the mishap to erratic power supply by JED, primarily during nighttime hours.
Odidi acknowledged the prompt response of the Plateau Fire Service, which helped minimize casualties and contain further damage. He appealed to the government to provide support to the affected families and individuals whose properties were impacted by the accident.
The tragedy underscores the pressing need for enhanced safety measures and consistent power supply in the community, with local authorities and the power utility urged to take immediate action.
