Tragedy was averted in Lagos on Friday when an unidentified man mounted an electricity transmission tower.
The incident occurred at Powerline Street, Calvary Bus Stop in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area.
Punch gathered that the man
wandered around the vicinity in the early hours of the day before
stopping at the foot of the tower at about 2pm.
wandered around the vicinity in the early hours of the day before
stopping at the foot of the tower at about 2pm.
Eyewitnesses said he removed some totems
tied to the tower by a vigilance group and mounted it to the top
despite warnings from residents and passers-by.
tied to the tower by a vigilance group and mounted it to the top
despite warnings from residents and passers-by.
A resident, Mr. Kazeem Oyebola, who said
the man did not look like a mentally challenged person, added that his
responses showed he was on a suicide mission.
the man did not look like a mentally challenged person, added that his
responses showed he was on a suicide mission.
He stated, “He was not mad at all. He
was coherent when he talked except for some vague statements he made. He
had a mission and it was to kill himself for some unknown reasons.”
was coherent when he talked except for some vague statements he made. He
had a mission and it was to kill himself for some unknown reasons.”
Also, a yam seller in the area who
identified herself as Iya Bose said she was scared when the man in his
late thirties climbed the tower.
identified herself as Iya Bose said she was scared when the man in his
late thirties climbed the tower.
Another resident, identified as Odunayo, who sells alcoholic drinks in the area, said the man covered himself with a wrapper.
She added that many felt the tower
climber wanted cheap publicity or had an intention to “carry out a
diabolical assignment particularly as he wore red knickers.”
climber wanted cheap publicity or had an intention to “carry out a
diabolical assignment particularly as he wore red knickers.”
Our correspondent learnt that the
incident attracted a crowd and some of them had to climb the tower to
see if they could get him down.
incident attracted a crowd and some of them had to climb the tower to
see if they could get him down.
A community leader in the area, Mr. Alao
Salami, said when he sensed that the man was not ready to disembark
from the tower after about three hours he had to alert the police at the
Idimu Police Station.
Salami, said when he sensed that the man was not ready to disembark
from the tower after about three hours he had to alert the police at the
Idimu Police Station.
An official with an electricity distribution firm who did not want his name in print told SUNDAY PUNCH that the only way the man could have survived electrocution was because there was no electricity in the wires.
When our correspondent visited Idimu
Police Divisional Headquarters, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. James
Sonekan, refused to comment on the matter.
Police Divisional Headquarters, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. James
Sonekan, refused to comment on the matter.
He said he was not authorised to make an official statement on the matter.
