MEDL confirms the death of operations staff Samson Okechi in an electrical accident at Eke, Enugu State, while rejecting social media claims of sabotage.
MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has confirmed the death of one of its operations staff following an electrical accident at Eke in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The company said the incident, which occurred at about 1 p.m. last Thursday, involved Mr. Samson Okechi, Team Lead, Abor, attached to its 9th Mile District.
Okechi was reportedly carrying out maintenance work on a 50kVA/11kV pole-mounted distribution substation at Eke when he sustained an electric shock.
The Head of Communications, MEDL, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, confirmed the incident in Enugu at the weekend, describing it as an unfortunate accident.
According to Ezeh, Okechi was immediately evacuated to Our Saviour Hospital, Ngwo, for medical attention but was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
His remains were subsequently deposited at a mortuary, while the incident was formally reported at the Ngwo Police Station for documentation and other statutory procedures.
Ezeh also rejected claims circulating on social media that Okechi was murdered or that his death resulted from sabotage.
He urged members of the public to disregard the reports, describing them as baseless and capable of creating unnecessary tension.
“I wonder why some people take pleasure in conjuring unfounded narratives and circulating them, thereby creating unnecessary tension and bad blood. This is so unfair,” he said.
Ezeh explained that Okechi had requested a Station Guarantee (SG) for the Okwe 11kV Feeder, which was granted at about 11:06 a.m. at the 9th Mile Injection Substation.
He said the feeder was subsequently opened and tagged before the maintenance activity.
“This is a very unfortunate development and a big shock to all of us, his colleagues. Our hearts go out to his immediate family as they grieve,” Ezeh said.
The MEDL spokesperson disclosed that management had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the accident.
He said the investigation would examine the immediate, underlying and root causes of the incident, with the objective of identifying any operational or safety gaps.
“We are committed to ensuring that the investigation is thorough and evidence-based. The findings will be used to identify any gaps, determine appropriate corrective measures, and strengthen safety procedures and operational controls where necessary,” he said.
MEDL assured customers and other stakeholders that safety remained a paramount priority across its operations.
The company said appropriate corrective measures would be implemented based on the outcome of the investigation.
The incident has again highlighted the risks faced by electricity distribution workers who routinely undertake maintenance and repair activities on power infrastructure.
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