5 electrocuted, 4 injured in Rivers
Five persons were killed while four others were seriously injured on Monday evening after they were electrocuted when a billboard they were erecting along the East-West Road touched high tension cables in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It was gathered that the billboard belonging to a new generation church was being mounted around the Obiri-Ikwere flyover in Rumuosi community of Port Harcourt when the incident occurred.
It was further gathered that the victims were artisans were contracted by the church to mount the billboard.
The bodies of the dead victims and those that were injured were rushed to the nearby University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
Speaking to journalists, Emmanuel Osita, a friend to one of the deceased victims said some of those involved were welders who fabricate metals along Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt.
Osita said: “In the process of installing the billboard under the high tension, the billboard touched the high tension cables and they were electrocuted. About five of them died immediately, and four other were seriously injured.
“It is not as if they were members of the church, they were called by the church to come and install the billboard.”
It could not be confirmed at press time if the victims got approval from the Rivers State Synages and Advertisement Agency (RISAA) before installing the billboard.
The Police has launched investigation into the accident.
