• Sad story of electrocuted Taraba Poly student, thanks God for being alive
From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Paul Saanmorior Iorhee, first-year student, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Taraba State Polytechnic, Jalingo, was electrocuted on May 21, 2025. The tragedy befell him while he was hoisting a flag at a rally organised for the Taraba State Investment Summit (TARAVEST).
He was initially presumed dead with witnesses already crying. On a closer examination, he was found to be alive, but in critical condition. Doctors at Gilead Hospital, Jalingo, where he was rushed to, were able to revive him. Thereafter, he was referred to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Taraba State Specialists Hospital, Jalingo, for further treatment. He was guided back to life. Unfortunately, he lost his two hands due to the severity of the shock.
Iorhee’s tragedy is a huge one. Everybody, who knows him in the neighbourhood, could attest to that. This is because he is the first son of his parents and had used his both hands to cultivate the farm and put food on their table. Now that the hands are gone, only God knows how the family will survive!
Family sources said: “It was the drive to improve the standard of living of his family that made him push for admission into the state polytechnic, where he had just started as a fresher, still in his first semester and was yet to even write his first examination.”
Iorhee told his story: “I come from a family where my both parents are farmers and we rely on the farm for everything. I love farming and spent a great time on the farm with my parents.
“My younger brother limps, so his input is not much despite his zeal to contribute to the wellbeing of the family. When I told my father that I wanted to further my education, he supported the idea even though we all knew it will affect our farms.
“I had to go to school so that I don’t also end up having children who will depend entirely on subsistence farming for survival. I also have a passion for the medical field generally and so I had to try and further my education at all cost.
“Some of us, my friends in school and I, usually go to work for people on their farms during weekends in the evening after school. That fateful day, one of my friends told me that there was a small job in town.
“It was to hoist flags to welcome the Vice President to the TARAVEST. Since I was free, I quickly accepted and we went there. Everything was going well until my pole touched the high-tension cables.”
That singular mistake altered his life. It could have cost him his life. But luck was still on his side. When he regained consciousness and realised that his hands were gone, surprisingly his first reaction was not that of shock. He had wished to die:
“Today, my joy is that I am alive. But I must say it is scary to think that I might not be able to pursue my dreams to fulfilment.
“When I found myself in the hospital after I recovered from the trauma, I actually felt like” ‘Why am I alive?’ Wouldn’t it be better if I were dead? But the scripture says ‘there is nothing you can give in exchange for your life.’ So, I must thank God for His good work.
“Today, my mates are taking their first-semester examinations, but here I am. That’s God. I left home for school with the goal to make my parents proud and improve the living conditions of my family. Little did I know that I was heading towards my end.
“I must say I am very grateful to God for sparing my life. I pray for a quick recovery from my injuries. The show of love and concerns from so many sources have given me strength. I am also grateful to the state government for taking care of my bills so far.”
His father was devastated but grateful because it was not worse: “Yes it could have been worse but God made it light. When I got the call that my son was battling for his life and I learnt of the circumstances surrounding it, I was so devastated I didn’t even know where to start.
“People started calling me from everywhere because there were conflicting reports. Some said he was dead while some said he was only severely injured.
“I left Bali immediately for Gilead Hospital where he was receiving treatment. I was shocked at the sight of my son. At that moment, I felt my world come crashing before me. I was completely helpless.
“Paul is my right hand literally. He is the one that does most of our farm work. I am getting old and there is no way I will be at my best as I used to be. He is such a hardworking and determined strong young man that he easily fills the gaps. Even now that he is in school, he still goes home some weekends to go and help us on the farm.
“Right now, I am more focused on his recovery. I am very grateful to God that he is still alive. I learnt that what happened could have easily killed him. So, the fact that he lost his hands but is still alive is consoling. But I must say that my life is devastated. His mother has been crying ever since.
“I keep asking myself where will I start from? Honestly this is not good at all. I find it difficult looking at him and imagining the amount of pains he is going through and the psychological trauma. I just have to be strong for him. But it is not easy at all.”
The school is considering a special training for Paul upon his recovery. The Rector, Danlamin Agbu, said: “With prosthetic limps, Paul can still function to a very large extent. We appeal to people of goodwill to assist and secure these items for him. He is a good student who is just unfortunate to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Paul is already thinking beyond life in the hospital. He is worried about his future. While he is praying that he recovers and secures the prosthetic limps to enable him pursue a career, he called on Governor Agbu Kefas to enlist him in the civil service so that he will be able to sustain himself after he is discharged from the hospital since he can no longer farm to sustain himself and his family:
“I will be glad to just be alive and productive. I cannot afford to become inactive and unable to help my family. I just want to have something doing, get meaning to my life.”