A labourer, Monday Koja, working on the premises of a private university located in the Ajebo area of Ogun State, lost his life on Wednesday following a wrongful wire connection that led to his electrocution.
PUNCH Metro gathered from a police source on Thursday that Koja, a native of Benue State, while working with some bricklayers on the premises of the university, attempted to connect electricity for the workers when he accidentally connected the positive and negative wires.
Our correspondent learnt further that the impact of the wrongful connection was said to have led to his electrocution and eventual death.
The source, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the media on the matter, said, “Today, on October 16, 2024, at approximately 6:05 PM, the duty officer at the Ajebo Out Post reported that the Chief Security Officer of Macpherson University in Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State, informed the Ajebo Police Post about an incident that occurred around 4:20 PM.
“Monday Koja, a 25-year-old native of Oturkpo, Benue State, who resided in Ijana Alapako, was working as a labourer with bricklayers at the new site of Macpherson University.
“During his work, Koja, who was not an electrician, attempted to connect electricity for the workers as darkness fell. While making the connection, he accidentally joined the positive and negative wires together, resulting in him receiving an electric shock and subsequently being electrocuted.”
The victim was said to have been taken to the university’s hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“He was quickly taken to the Macpherson University Clinic, where the attending physician confirmed his death,” the source noted.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, told PUNCH Metro that the body of the deceased was deposited at the Ipara morgue.
She stressed that further investigation had commenced into the matter.
“Police officers visited the site of the incident and reported that there was no suspicion of foul play. It was noted that the mother and other family members of the deceased were present at the scene.
“The body has been taken to the Ipara Private Mortuary for burial arrangements. Further investigation is ongoing,” Odutola said.
PUNCH Metro reported on October 3 that a 24-year-old welder identified as Adedeji was confirmed dead after he was electrocuted at Nnamdi Azikiwe Street on the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.
The deceased was said to have been working on the site of a two-storey building under renovation when the incident happened.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, had said that Adedeji was engaged by his brother to work on the building.
Hundeyin had noted that Adedeji came into contact with a live electrical source while working on the second floor resulting in severe burns to his legs.
