Anambra Tragedy: POS Operator Electrocuted by Falling High-Tension Cable
A male Point-of-Sale (POS) operator in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has died after being electrocuted by a high-tension cable that reportedly snapped and fell on him while he stood outside his shop.
The tragic incident, which occurred over the weekend, has stirred shock and grief in the community. According to eyewitness accounts, the operator was directly beneath the high-tension line when the cable suddenly detached and struck him.
Despite the passage of days, the victim’s lifeless body remained at the scene as of Tuesday, with the severed cable still resting on him and emitting smoke, heightening fears among residents. A video circulating on social media confirmed the chilling scene, showing the deceased lying motionless, the live wire draped across his body.
Though his full identity had yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting, locals revealed that the victim had only recently gotten married.
Reacting to the incident, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Ossy Onuko, described the death as a painful reminder of the dangers of operating or building under high-tension power lines.
“This is something we have been campaigning against from time to time—that it is very dangerous to build or trade under the high-tension wire,” Onuko stated on Tuesday.
He noted that ACTDA’s routine sensitisation campaigns are often met with criticism, but stressed that the agency’s enforcement measures are driven by a concern for public safety.
“In fact, it is part of the reasons why most times, on social media, we are vilified as being inhumane for trying to let people know that they cannot either build or trade under the high tension,” he added.
Calling the loss “pathetic” and “avoidable,” Onuko said, “It’s a suicide mission to have your shop or your kiosk or your roadside activities under the high tension. The avoidable loss of life is unfortunate. It is sadly one example of many negative outcomes and resultant effects of such an act of negligence to safety.”
He urged members of the public to take personal responsibility for their safety and not wait for authorities to enforce compliance.
“People should see it as a personal responsibility to be safety conscious and also enlighten others, not just themselves. No precious life is worth being lost to such a careless and avoidable death. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said.
The incident has reignited public concern over enforcement of zoning and safety regulations in urban and peri-urban areas across the state.
