On Monday evening, a tragic incident occurred in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, resulting in the death of five individuals and severe injuries to four others. The unfortunate incident took place as they were electrocuted while in the process of erecting a billboard along East-West Road.
This billboard, which belonged to a new-generation church, was being installed near the Obiri-Ikwere flyover in the Rumuosi community of the state.
The victims, who were artisans contracted by the church for the billboard’s installation, inadvertently came into contact with high-tension cables during their work.
Following the accident, the lifeless bodies of the deceased victims and the injured individuals were transported to the nearby University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) by witnesses of the incident.
A close friend of one of the deceased victims, Emmanuel Osita, shared with journalists that some of those involved were welders who specialize in crafting metal structures along Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt.
Osita said: “In the process of installing the billboard under the high tension, the billboard touched the high-tension cables and they were electrocuted. About five of them died immediately, and four others were seriously injured.
“It is not as if they were members of the church, they were called by the church to come and install the billboard.”
As of the time of the report, it remained uncertain whether the individuals had obtained approval from the Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency (RISAA) prior to setting up the billboard.
In response to the tragedy, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed that an investigation has been initiated into the incident.
