Ondo govt visits families of children electrocuted by fallen live cable

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government has visited the families of two children who died after being electrocuted by a live electricity cable in Opa, Idanre Local Government Area of the state.

The victims, five-year-old Emmanuel Oyedepo and six-year-old Clinton Koleola, reportedly died on Saturday after a live cable fell from an electricity pole onto a shop where the children were staying.

Following the incident, a government delegation led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Emergency Response and Safety Enforcement, Prince Wellington Oriade Adebawo, visited the community on Monday to commiserate with the bereaved families.

The delegation, which included the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency Desk Officer, Dare Phillip, first inspected the scene of the incident before visiting the homes of the deceased children’s parents to convey the state government’s condolences.

Speaking during the visit, Adebawo described the incident as painful and heartbreaking, expressing sympathy to the families over the loss of the children.

He explained that the visit was also intended to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify safety concerns arising from the fallen cable, while assuring the affected families of the government’s concern and support.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident, saying preliminary findings indicated that the live electricity cable fell onto the shop where the children were staying and that they were electrocuted while attempting to escape.

Jimoh said police investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. The government delegation also reiterated its commitment to giving appropriate attention to the safety concerns arising from the tragedy.