ABUJA (Interior Ministry’ Report)- Following conflicting reports in a section of the media on the actual figure of those who lost their lives in the electrocution incident in Nyaghasang Community in Calabar, Cross River State on Thursday, 20th April, 2017, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, constituted a high-powered delegation led by the Director (Press) in the Ministry, Willie Bassey, on a fact-finding mission to the state.
Gen. Dambazau has put the record straight that a total of 22 persons were evacuated to the hospital from the scene of the accident; out of which seven (7), comprising six (6) males and one (1) female were confirmed dead while fifteen (15) were being treated for various degrees of injuries on account of the incident.
The Minister added that as at the time of the visit, ten (10) of the injured were still receiving treatment and in stable condition while five (5) had been discharged.
He disclosed that for the avoidance of doubt the team visited the Nyaghasang Qua Clan in Calabar, the scene of the incident, and corroborated the figure of the dead with the community leaders, as well as the State Commissioner for Information, Mrs Rosemary Archibong, who also confirmed that seven persons in all died as against other figures being speculated in the media.
However, the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, has advised media practitioners to always cross-check their sources of information in line with the ethics of the profession before publication so as to reduce tension and anxiety among the populace.
