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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Two in inmates awaiting trial at Uyo correctional centre have been confirmed dead as a result of electrocution from a faulty electricity transformer that affected the facility recently.
There was an explosion from electricity transformer near the correctional centre in Uyo, prompting a high voltage wire dropping at a portion of the facility and causing total blackout in the area.
Confirming the incident to journalists in Uyo, the state controller of the centre, Frank Okonkwo, said the centre was the worst hit, regretting that the incident claimed the lives of two awaiting-trial inmates and injured two other staff members and destroyed all electrical appliances.
He explained that during the explosion, the deceased victims were thrown up where they were sitting and when they were later rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching hospital by the facility’s doctor after administration of first aid, they were pronounced dead.
Okonkwo said, though, the victims were awaiting trials for conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery; they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court describing the situation as unfortunate.
He said the families have been contacted and one of them has concluded the processes for retrieval of corpse,adding that the command would only release the corpse upon completion of investigations.
“It was very unfortunate, because the thing caused a lot of damage, both to our facility and the families of the deceased.
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“When that explosion occurred at the transformer, officials of PHEDC came and informed us that it was as a result of too much voltage.
“ The thing affected us in that it actually destroyed or damaged all electrical appliances, computers etc in our facility.
“It affected our barracks as well, and even the official residence of the officer in charge.
“ But the most painful aspect of it was that it affected two of our inmates that finally lost their lives as they were rushed to the hospital.
“They were thrown off from where they were staying, and immediately our medical personnel administered first aid, and rushed them to the University of Uyo Teaching hospital, where they were later confirmed dead.
“It was a big loss, both to themselves and to the inmates, especially when they were just awaiting trial, one of them was standing trial for conspiracy and kidnapping, the other one for armed robbery
The same transformer was faulty few years ago , though no life was lost,but called on relevant authority to address the issue to forestall reoccurrence.
“Our legal department is investigating the matter and would present a comprehensive report accordingly.”
