Five Electrocuted, Four Hospitalised While Erecting Billboard In Rivers- Police Arrest Pastor

No fewer than five persons were electrocuted while trying to mount a billboard in the Obiri-Ikwerre area of Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the Rivers State, last Monday.
Also, four others who received life-threatening burns are currently battling for their lives at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where they were rushed to for treatment.
According to The Tide source, the billboard, a major outdoor advertisement with a metal frame, reportedly touched a high-tension cable, thereby causing a spark.
The nine men were said to have lifted the gigantic structure when its metal component touched the cable and immediately conducted an electric current.
The electric current gripped and shocked five of them to death while four others were said to be in critical condition.
The victims were said to be private businessmen contracted to mount the billboard for a new generation church.
Meanwhile, the Police have arrested a pastor of the church that owns the billboard linked to the electrocution of nine persons.
The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest yesterday.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, stated, “ Yes, I can confirm that the Assistant Pastor of the Church has been arrested.
“He is in the custody of the China Police Division as we speak. An investigation is still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the church on whose behalf the metal billboard was being mounted has been sealed by officials of the Rivers State Signage and Advertising Agency, yesterday.
Also sealed is the billboard stand which is still at the scene of electrocution along the Obiri-Ikwere stretch of the East-West Road, as the two areas have been cordoned off with safety tapes.
Speaking, Managing Director of the RSAA, Dr. Anthony Okeah, sympathised with the victims but said the people electrocuted were mounting the billboard without approval from the agency.
Okeah stated, “They don’t have any approval from the agency. We spend time warning people against illegal activities such as this one.
“We regret what has happened, but please this will serve as a deterrent that people should learn how to do things the proper way.
“The agency regulates where billboard structures would be erected, the sizes, and whether it will cause visual blinds, accidents, and all such consequences.
“We go out every day to remove illegal structures because of where they are erected and because of the low standard.”
He warned those engaging in such forms of outdoor advertising without the agency’s authorization to desist forthwith, saying defaulters will be penalized.
“It cost the agency a whole lot. We have to hire equipment, pay loaders, welders, and artisans. You pay them daily to carry out this enforcement.
‘If you must practice advertisement you must go the right way. You must be satisfied and you concern your elf with the rules and Regular ions of the signage agency, “ the RSAA boss added.