Oh dear, Nigerians are going through a lot. I know one day,
these stories will be over.
these stories will be over.
Tragedy was averted in Lagos on Friday when an unidentified
man mounted an electricity transmission tower.
man mounted an electricity transmission tower.
The incident occurred at Powerline Street, Calvary Bus Stop
in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area.
in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area.
A Punch correspondent gathered that the man wandered around the
vicinity in the early hours of the day before stopping at the foot of the tower
at about 2pm.
vicinity in the early hours of the day before stopping at the foot of the tower
at about 2pm.
Eyewitnesses said he removed some totems tied to the tower
by a vigilance group and mounted it to the top despite warnings from residents
and passers-by.
by a vigilance group and mounted it to the top despite warnings from residents
and passers-by.
A resident, Mr. Kazeem Oyebola, who said the man did not
look like a mentally challenged person, added that his responses showed he was
on a suicide mission.
look like a mentally challenged person, added that his responses showed he was
on a suicide mission.
He stated, “He was not mad at all. He was coherent when he
talked except for some vague statements he made. He had a mission and it was to
kill himself for some unknown reasons.”
talked except for some vague statements he made. He had a mission and it was to
kill himself for some unknown reasons.”
Also, a yam seller in the area who identified herself as Iya
Bose said she was scared when the man in his late thirties climbed the tower.
Bose said she was scared when the man in his late thirties climbed the tower.
Another resident, identified as Odunayo, who sells alcoholic
drinks in the area, said the man covered himself with a wrapper.
drinks in the area, said the man covered himself with a wrapper.
She added that many felt the tower climber wanted cheap
publicity or had an intention to “carry out a diabolical assignment
particularly as he wore red knickers.”
publicity or had an intention to “carry out a diabolical assignment
particularly as he wore red knickers.”
Our correspondent learnt that the incident attracted a crowd
and some of them had to climb the tower to see if they could get him down.
and some of them had to climb the tower to see if they could get him down.
A community leader in the area, Mr. Alao Salami, said when
he sensed that the man was not ready to disembark from the tower after about
three hours he had to alert the police at the Idimu Police Station.
he sensed that the man was not ready to disembark from the tower after about
three hours he had to alert the police at the Idimu Police Station.
An official with an electricity distribution firm who did
not want his name in print told Sunday Punch that the only way the man could
have survived electrocution was because there was no electricity in the wires.
not want his name in print told Sunday Punch that the only way the man could
have survived electrocution was because there was no electricity in the wires.
When our correspondent visited Idimu Police Divisional
Headquarters, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. James Sonekan, refused to
comment on the matter.
Headquarters, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. James Sonekan, refused to
comment on the matter.
He said he was not authorised to make an official statement
on the matter.
on the matter.
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