NIBO, Anambra, Nigeria(BN24) — A male Point of Sale (POS) operator was electrocuted by a fallen high-tension wire while standing in front of his shop in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, officials and eyewitnesses said.
The incident occurred over the weekend when a high-tension wire was severed and fell onto the victim, who was reportedly operating under the power line. Eyewitness accounts and a video circulating on social media showed the man’s lifeless body lying beneath the still-smoking wire, which continued to emit sparks hours after the accident, creating panic in the community.
The victim’s identity remains unconfirmed, though sources indicated he recently got married. The tragic event has reignited concerns over safety practices in areas where shops and kiosks operate directly under high-voltage lines.
Ossy Onuko, Managing Director and CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), condemned the incident as unfortunate but underscored it as a consequence of ignoring repeated safety warnings. Onuko noted that the agency has long campaigned against building or trading beneath high-tension wires, efforts often met with public resistance.
“It is a suicide mission to have your shop or kiosk under a high-tension wire,” Onuko said Tuesday. “This avoidable loss of life should serve as a deterrent to others. Our sensitisation and enforcement campaigns are not meant to witch-hunt people but to protect them.”
Onuko urged residents to take personal responsibility for safety, warning against complacency and stressing that no life is worth the risk posed by such negligence. “A stitch in time saves nine,” he said, appealing to the public to heed safety advice and warn others to prevent similar tragedies.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing safety regulations around electrical infrastructure in Anambra State and calls for increased public awareness to prevent further loss of life.
