14th October, 2023
The Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JED plc, has confirmed malfunction of its facility which reportedly claimed 10 lives, with many injured and scores of shops burnt in the Kabong community of Jos North local government area of Plateau state early Saturday morning.
Residents of the area said a high tension wire snapped and fell on a transformer, resulting in lightning and shock waves which not only claimed lives but razed shops and buildings as many household items went up in flames as a result of the high voltage generated by the incident.
Plateau Police Command spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, said six people lost their lives in the incident.
He added that the police are still investigating the cause of the incident.
However, a resident of Kabong, Mr Dung Bature, said that 10 people were killed, while many were injured as a result of the incident.
He also confirmed that some shops around Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the community were also gutted by fire among other damages caused by the incident.
Mr Istifanu John, Sole Administrator of the Jos North Local Government Council, who visited the scene, described it as very unfortunate.
He said the accident inflicted other losses on the state and called on the JED to fix all faults that might have triggered the nightmare.
“This is pathetic because it is an avoidable situation.
“Those that lost their lives didn’t go anywhere to look for trouble; they died in their homes.
“As government, we are pained by this development.
“We call on JED to ensure that all faulty power sources are fixed to avoid this monumental loss in the future,’’ he said.
John condoled with the bereaved families and called on residents to be wary about they use of electric appliances.
In his remarks, spokesman of the traders association in the community, Mr Solomon Odidi, said seven shops were razed.
Odidi blamed the incident on erratic power, supplied by the JED only at night.
He commended the Plateau Fire Service for its timely response, which he said minimised the number of casualties and staved further damages.
Odidi appealed to government to support the bereaved families and those whose properties were destroyed in the accident.
However, the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc in a statement issued by its Head, of Corporation Communications, Dr Friday Elijah, on Saturday attributed the incident which occurred at about 3 a.m. to issues surrounding its high tension wires in the area.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was a result of a high-tension line snap onto the low-tension lines which resulted in a voltage supply outside limits.
“The source feeder tripped off and inter-tripped the transmission end source from Makeri Transmission Station,” the JED spokesperson said without mentioning the number of casualties.
He however said the company will continue to monitor the situation closely and communicate the facts of the incident.
He said that an evaluation of the root causes would be conducted and appropriate measures put in place to forestall future occurrences.
“We express our deepest sympathies to families who have encountered losses as a result of this incident,” he said.