In a devastating incident at Mowe Market in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, no fewer than three individuals, including a mother and child, were reportedly electrocuted.
The incident occurred on Monday, following the restoration of power after heavy rainfall on Sunday.
According to eyewitnesses, the electric shock originated from a step-down transformer suspended on an electrical pole near the shop where the incident took place. The victims, a woman and her son, tragically suffered severe burns beyond recognition.
Chairman of the Local Government, Ambassador Adesina Ogunsola, visited the market on Wednesday and issued a seven-day notice to all traders with shops and stalls located under high-tension powerlines to vacate the area immediately to prevent any recurrence of such a tragic incident.
Confirming the incident, the Director of Information at the Obafemi Owode Local Government, Segun Soneye, attributed the cause to the erection of shops made of iron under the powerline by the traders.
During his visit to the market, Ogunsola expressed condolences to the families of the victims and criticized the nonchalant attitude of some traders.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to safety regulations and questioned why shops were located so close to electrical poles carrying step-down transformers.
The police spokesman, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident, stating that only the mother, identified as Ujuwa Okechukwu, died from the tragic incident.
However, the circumstances surrounding the other casualties remain unclear.
