Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Four staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Commission (BEDC) have allegedly been arrested by the Edo State Police following the complain of the family that their son, Engr. August Izekor, who is a staff of the company was killed by his colleagues
The suspects were arrested at different locations in Edo State by BEDC security personnel, who later handed them over to the police at Iyekogba Police Division in Oredo Local Government Area of the state, where they were interrogated and are presently being detailed.
Truth Live News reports that Izekor had on October 26 left his office at Etete, Benin City to restore power to Evbodia community following reports of an outage when one of his colleagues allegedly ordered that power should be restored, an action which led to his electrocution.
Raising the alarm, the family members pointed accusing fingers at one of his old co-workers, who the deceased had during his lifetime, allegedly accused of plotting to kill him over his elevation as the head of the department.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor denied knowledge of the arrest but the Chief Security Officer of the electricity company, Col. David Aghedo, (rtd) however confirmed news of the arrest of the engineer’s colleagues who accompanied him to Evbodia on that fateful day.
“They were arrested at various spots. We are yet to get their response as per their involvement in the operation where he was electrocuted”, Aghedo said.
Meanwhile, authorities of BEDC last weekend met with the family of the late Izekor at the corporate headquarters in Benin, after paying a condolence visit to the wife, Mrs. Helen Izekor and the children.
The Head, Human Capital, Dr. Obi Obinna who led BEDC management team said that it was with rude shock that the company received news of the sudden death of Mr. Izekor.
“It was an accident. But we cannot rule out the fact that there were no errors. The errors were avoidable but it still occurred. We are very sorry over the loss and we guarantee the family that we will stand by them according to the laid down procedures of our organisation,” he said.
On the part of the deceased immediate elder brother, Mr. Friday Izekor, he told the management team that the family has hired a private investigator who has come up with some facts.
“We have been rightly informed that the incident occurred on October 26, at about 2 pm. His colleagues ran away and later returned at about 4 pm to take him to the hospital along Airport Road.
“He was unconscious at that time and when he managed to gain consciousness, he called my younger sister at about 7pm, telling her that he had an accident.
“My younger sister, Uyimwen, who was so worried rushed to the hospital where she tried to support him to survive the shock. But he couldn’t make it, and then gave up about 11pm. if my late brother was taken to the hospital on time, maybe he would have survived”, Friday said.