Tragedy struck in Karatudu community, Ungwar Romi, Kaduna State, when a high-voltage electricity supply killed two residents and destroyed several houses and properties, throwing residents into panic.

The fire, which resulted from the power surge, was linked to a fault in the Kaduna Electric feeder that affected the transformer supplying Karatudu New Extension.

An elderly man and a boy were reportedly electrocuted in their homes. The spokesperson of Kaduna Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, told The Guardian in a telephone interview that the police had not yet received a formal report on the incident.

“We are yet to receive the report on the incident in Karatudu New Extension. Once we receive the report, we are going to investigate the cause of the fire, the death of the victims, and the destruction to properties. Be sure that I will get back to you once we find out; and I assure you that it will be thoroughly investigated,” Hassan said. One affected resident, Mr Sam Ajoga of Chikun Street, confirmed that the surge occurred around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

“The surge from the electricity fire caused the death of two persons who were instantly electrocuted,” he said. “The high voltage burnt some electric cables, some buildings, and destroyed many electronics. Sadly, Elder Johnson Babatunde Atteh, a native of Kogi State, was electrocuted in his room while trying to switch off a deep freezer. Also, a young boy, Joshua, was electrocuted as he was trying to plug his phone.”

Ajoga added that he was at a church service when neighbours called to inform him that his house was on fire. “I could not salvage my properties. The only thing I brought out were my certificates,” he said.

A relation of the late Elder Atteh, Chief Oyibo Atteh, blamed Kaduna Electric for negligence. “The death was tragic and shocking, more so coming from the high negligence of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company that did nothing to repair the transformer after several reports of the faults from residents,” he said.

According to him, representatives of the company later visited the family to offer condolences and promised to investigate the cause of the surge.

While calls to the Head of Corporate Affairs of Kaduna Electric, Abdullazeez Abdullahi, went unanswered, a senior official of the company, who was part of the condolence visit but requested anonymity, admitted that the problem emanated from a faulty feeder.

“Yesterday, when electricity was restored, there was a problem from the feeder supplying the area, which caused serious damage to the transformer. The high voltage entered people’s houses and the fire that occurred destroyed properties,” he said.