High voltage kills 11 in Zaria

An unexpected power surge has killed at least 11 people in Zaria community of Kaduna state. Daily Trust reported that the affected areas include Gwargwaje and Kauran Juli situated along Zaria-Kaduna Expressway.

 A resident of the area, Aliyu Samaila told the publication; “Electric power supply was restored in high voltage in the area around 1am. It caused indiscriminate spark of electricity gadgets.

 That resulted in the burning of a house of one Engineer Zubair Abubakar while other houses continued to release smoke.”

 Those feared dead include a pregnant woman, health personnel, a police officer and many others all in the Gwargwaje area.

 Mrs Christy Lombo, wife of the police officer that lost his life in the incident at Gwargwaje police barracks, said they were all asleep when electricity power was restored. Lombo said; “My daughter woke up to realise that some of the fuses in the house were in smoke. 

So she woke me up but before then my husband had already woken up and went to switch off the light from the main change over plug. 

 “He was instantly shocked and thrown away by the high current. We later took him to the hospital where he gave up.”

 Reacting to the incident, Head of Corporate Communication, Kaduna Electricity Company (KEDCO), Abdulazeez Abdullahi, said in a statement; “The accident was as a result of high tension line snap on to the low tension line, which resulted in voltage supply outside limits. 

 “The source feeder was immediately opened in an emergency to avoid further damage. 

 “We continue to monitor the situation closely and communicate the facts of this regrettable incident. 

We express our deepest sympathies to families who have encountered losses as a result of this accident.”