Hundreds Escape Electrocution in Benin

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
More than 300 persons reportedly escaped being electrocuted in Benin City, Edo State capital, when the red conductor conveying the 330KV of Benin/Egbin line collapsed.

The General Manager of the Benin region of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Victor Adewunmi, who disclosed this yesterday when he took journalists round the place, noted that had the incident occurred, what happened in Cross Rivers State recently would have been a child’s play

Adewunmi, who was represented by the region Assistant General Manager (Technical Services), Mr. John Madufor, however, disclosed that the disaster was averted because the red conductor fell on the yellow conductor.
He noted that if the conductor had fallen on the ground, the people and houses within the precinct of the high tension would have been roasted.

The TCN boss said the incident which occurred around 6p.m. last Monday had affected power supply to some parts of Lagos.
According to him, “What happened here is that the red face of the conductor detached as a result of corrosion and rested on the yellow face.
“The saving grace was that it did not drop on the ground; if it had happened that way, what happened in Calabar viewing centre would have been a child’s play.

“This is because at the time the incident occurred, the place was seriously built up.

“This is why we keep telling people not to build within 50 meters precinct of high tension lines. This is exactly what we are trying to avert when we say that but people don’t understand the danger inherent in building under high tension lines,” he stated.

He further said: “It will affect power supply flow to Lagos. It is the Benin/Egbin line that is affected. It will definitely affect the grid. It would however cause a collapse in the system if it were to be carrying heavy line.”