My Neighborhood Watch: Reporting of Events Around Us-60

photo sourced from my Facebook page

A tragic and shocking incidence happened in the early hours of Wednesday at Afaha Road by Akadep in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State. A young man met his untimely death being electrocuted while attempting to vandalised the high-tension powerlines, cutting the wires in the area.

The incidence has sent shockwaves to the residents raising concern about the increasing rate of powerlines vandalism and the dangers associated with tampering with public utilities. This is one of the many cases of powerline theft by the robbers youths rendering communities in total power outage.

The deceased identified as 33 year old Mr Peter Nkannang was reportedly known in the Mbiabong axis for heavy crime including involvement in the local youth cultism. According to eyewitness, Mr Nkannang left his wife and two kids at home and went to the crime scene alone in the twilight of the eventful day, having planned to steal valuable copper wires from high tension Inpowerlines, a crime that has become alarmingly found everywhere in the city due to the market value of the metal. Criminals usually target copper wires including cutting it off generators and water sumor due to it value in the black market.

source

Around 3 am the vandal reportedly approaching the high tension poles with tools as power went off from the area the penultimate days, he succeeded in cutting first set and dropped on the ground. However, luck ran out on Peter when the electricity contribution company locally known as NEPA suddenly brought light on the live wire lines, as he made contact to cut the wire, the live wire electrocuted him sending thousands of electricity volts through his body.

The intensity of the voltage caused a violent electrocution killing him on the spot, his body was left dangling, a powerful reminder of the consequences of such dare Devil crime.

Residents who awoke by the sparking of the electricity and Peter's screaming rushed to the scene could offer no help. It was later during the daylight that the police attention were called to the scene along with the working men from Power Holding Company who after disconnected the high-tension climbed up to remove the dead hanging body from the powerlines.

The onlookers and passersby expressed their shock and surprise at the harrowing incidence” it's quiet disheartening that a young man with family would lost his life in this way, we have been hearing of electrical wires theft but never knew it would result in a case as sadden as this. This should serve as a deterrent to others who might dare it" said one of the onlookers.

As at the time of publishing this report the police DPO in the Ewet Housing Estate Area command has promised to launch an extensive investigation to shed more light on the matter, given a strong warning to the public about the dangers of tampering with high-tension powerlines and the transformers, highlighting that such acts do not only endanger lives but affect the wellbeing of the entire communities.

This heartbreaking incidence underlines the increasing problems of public infrastructure vandalism, youth theft and burglary, a case that the authorities have determined to address using strict measures through the security and law enforcement agencies along with setting up of community watch. The local communities are still in shock, discussing everywhere including the market Square the tragic lost of a young man with family due to reckless lifestyle and bad decision.

Report from Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

From: Emmanuel Blessing

Special Invite

@goodybest
@josepha
@edidiongeffiong