Two electrocuted during power surge in Rivers community

The police command in Rivers state says two people were electrocuted following an electrical surge in Okrika community, Okrika LGA. 

Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers police, told TheCable that the incident happened in the early hours of Monday.

She said the community had not had power supply for a while, adding that the victims were electrocuted as a result of an electrical fault when electricity was restored.

“According to people in the area, there was no power, and when it was restored, an electrical fault electrocuted two persons in different buildings, and the two of them died,” the police spokesperson said.

“They were taken to the hospital before they died.”

She said the police are still investigating the cause of the electrical fault.

Deaths from electrical mishaps have become a recurring issue in the country.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said 31 people died from electrical accidents in the final quarter of 2021 alone.

Electrical sparks have also been blamed for numerous market fires across the country.