Nine-year-old killed in transformer explosion in Nigeria

Tragedy struck at Papalanto community in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State in Nigeria on Wednesday (3 April) following an electric transformer explosion that reportedly killed the son of one Taiwo Nicholas, a resident of the community, and injured his daughter, the deceased sister.

On Thursday the two victims; nine-year-old Jomiloju Taiwo, died before he could be taken to the hospital, and seven-year-old Pipeloluwa Taiwo, who had burns from the incident.

The incident happened at about 1:33pm when the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company was said to have restored power supply to the community shortly after a power outage.

A correspondent of the Punch learnt that not long after the power restoration, a loud noise was heard, which was suspected to have emanated from the electric transformer.

The explosion was said to have generated some fire and gutted Nicholas’ building, which was said to have been located just a few feet away from the transformer.

The siblings were found lying unconscious on the kitchen floor when their mother rushed to the apartment to ascertain the impact of the explosion.

While the two victims were being rushed to the hospital, the older sibling, Jomiloju, was said to have died, and Pipeloluwa sustained severe burns both on the feet and hands.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the power distribut

ion company, Busolami Tunwase, said she would find out about the incident and get back to our correspondent.

“I will find out and get back,” she simply stated in a telephone conversation on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State police public relations officer, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident on Thursday (4 April), said investigation was ongoing.

She said, “It happened on Wednesday. It was reported to the police on Thursday. One of the children died before he could be taken to the hospital. The younger one sustained burns on the legs and hands and was taken to a hospital in Lagos.

“The two children were found lying unconscious on the kitchen floor after the explosion.”

This was the second electricity incident that involved minors just a few days apart.

On 1 April 2024, the Ogun State Police Command said it had launched an investigation into the death of a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly electrocuted in the Olomore Housing Estate in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The teenager was said to have been contacted by a naked cable that was placed in a pumping machine inside the well while she was fetching water from it.

She was jolted immediately after the contact and confirmed dead by a doctor on duty at a hospital.