Three men lost their lives in the Fegge area of Onitsha, Anambra State, when an iron pole used for a water tank project made contact with a live 11kV overhead wire. Punch reported that the accident took place on Monday at a two-storey building on Old Port Harcourt Road. The property owner had hired a contractor to drill a borehole, and the three workers were part of that team. As they tried to raise the metal pole, it slipped and struck the high-voltage line, delivering a fatal shock to Chukwudi Ukwa, Frank Okafor and Somadina Nwabuike.
Police from the Fegge Division transported the bodies to the General Hospital in Onitsha. Officers confirmed the details to Punch on Tuesday, noting that the building owner, referred to as Mr Steven, was assisting investigators with the case. The state police command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, was also contacted for a formal statement but did not answer calls or messages on Tuesday.
FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited issued a statement on Tuesday, signed by communications head Izunna Okafor, expressing concern over the deaths. The utility explained that long metal objects can conduct electricity from energised lines, causing instant shock even if workers do not directly touch the wires. The company warned that construction, tank installation and borehole drilling near power lines require careful safety planning to avoid such tragedies.
Okafor noted that these accidents are preventable if property owners and artisans maintain safe distances from overhead conductors. FirstPower highlighted its ongoing awareness campaigns in markets, schools and communities across Anambra State. These efforts advise traders and residents to avoid setting up structures or handling long metal items within the rights-of-way of power lines. The utility urged the public to report suspected electrical hazards quickly and to keep a safe distance from fallen wires, while advising contractors to assess work areas for nearby conductors before starting projects.