₦airaland Forum

An electrical surge in the Tudun-Wadan Pantami area of Gombe Metropolis claimed the lives of five people and left 13 others injured in the early hours of Saturday, according to the Gombe State Police Command, News360 Nigeria reports.

Our correspondent reports that the State’s Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Regional Coordination, Abdullahi Kulani, was among those five reportedly affected by the electrocution.

The incident, which authorities said was caused by a high-voltage surge from a nearby transformer, occurred just after dawn, catching residents unawares.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Gombe State Police Command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said officers from the Low-cost Divisional Police Headquarters swiftly responded to the distress call.

Abdullahi said, “Our officers moved quickly to secure the scene and evacuate the victims to hospitals for urgent medical care. Unfortunately, five individuals lost their lives, and thirteen others sustained varying degrees of injuries.”

According to police, the deceased have been deposited in three different morgues; three bodies at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, one at the State Specialist Hospital, one at Bolari Filin Kwallo Mortuary.

The injured victims are currently receiving treatment at several health facilities across the state.

Abdullahi noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Yahaya, described the incident as “deeply saddening” and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

“We express our heartfelt sympathy to those who have lost loved ones and wish the injured a swift and full recovery,” he said.

He assured the public of a thorough investigation into the cause of the power surge. “We are determined to uncover the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event and ensure accountability where necessary,” he said.

Residents of Tudun-Wadan Pantami are still reeling from the shock. One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, described the moment of the incident as “terrifying,” noting that several victims were electrocuted in their homes.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. People were shouting and running; some were already unconscious by the time help arrived,” the resident said.

Newsgeek24:
https://news360ng.com/high-electric-voltage-kills-perm-sec-four-others-in-gombe/

Kazeem47:
RIP to the dead.what could be the cause?Is it the rainy season or what?

Karlovych:
Chicago drug dealer has brought nothing but tears and misery to his people, I see him paying dearly for his crimes soon

This I have seen!

Newsgeek24:
https://news360ng.com/high-electric-voltage-kills-perm-sec-four-others-in-gombe/

Lezzlie:
after reading the article, I ended up asking more questions than getting any answers as to what happened m

Very poor journalism

Newsgeek24:
https://news360ng.com/high-electric-voltage-kills-perm-sec-four-others-in-gombe/

bewla:
Rip
till we meet again
Why all this senseless you have not type forty long word to be allowed to post on front page abi na only me this thing they target ni

Pls if it happens to you to pls let's call the moderator to order
It was not like this
When seun start this small village o compound oo

pathinv:
You know nowadays I can't differentiate between bloggers, journalists and content creators because this news is not complete yet.. electric surge from a nearby transformer, are they inside the transformer trying to still cable or what?

ThinkBrave:
As someone with over 15 years of experience in the electrical engineering space, I must emphasize a hard truth: over 80% of residential buildings in Nigeria lack even the most basic electrical protection systems. This is a systemic failure we can no longer ignore.

The average Nigerian home is at the mercy of the national grid, with little to no safeguards against overvoltage, short circuits, or earth faults. Critical components such as surge protection devices (SPDs), residual current devices (RCDs), miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), and proper earthing systems are often absent—or worse, improperly selected and installed. The majority of homes use protection devices that are either underrated, oversized, or completely unsuitable for the type of load and environment they're meant to safeguard.

The root of this problem runs deep: Nigeria lacks a localized, enforceable national electrical code. While engineers and electricians often default to foreign standards such as the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), IEEE, or the British Standards, these codes—though technically sound—do not always account for the unique grid instability, socioeconomic realities, and environmental conditions present in Nigeria. By contrast, countries like the United States use the NEC (National Electrical Code), and South Africa has its own customized wiring code—both legally binding and culturally tailored.

I recall a recent solar installation where a client hesitated to invest in proper protection devices—perceiving them as "non-essential add-ons." This mindset is widespread and dangerously shortsighted. Without circuit protection, solar installations, just like grid-connected systems, are highly susceptible to fire hazards, equipment failure, and in worst cases, fatal accidents like the one witnessed in Gombe.

This is why we must urgently establish a Nigerian Electrical Code—a comprehensive, legally enforceable standard tailored to our infrastructure, climate, and usage patterns. This code should prioritize:

Mandatory surge protection in all homes.

Standardized breaker sizing and panel labeling.

Compulsory earthing systems for all buildings.

Routine electrical audits for compliance.

Professional certification and accountability for installations.

Though implementation and enforcement of standards will always seem to be a problem, let's have the codes first.


RIP to the life lost. No one should have to pay for an avoidable electrical failure with their life.