A devastating power surge in the Karatudu community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has left two people dead and several houses destroyed by fire.
The victims, identified as 69-year-old Johnson Atteh and 16-year-old Joshua Olatunde, were electrocuted in their homes while attempting to switch off electrical appliances during the incident.
Residents say the surge was linked to a fault in the distribution line connected to the transformer serving the community.
Relatives of the deceased accused Kaduna Electric of negligence, alleging that the company ignored repeated reports of faults in the transformer.
One family member insisted that the company should take responsibility and provide compensation for the loss of lives.
However, Kaduna Electric denied the claims.
The company’s Head of Corporate Communication, Abdullazeez Abdullahi, in a statement, attributed the tragedy to lightning, not equipment failure.
According to the company, only houses with faulty wiring and defective earthing were affected by the surge, while properly wired homes were spared.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives,” the statement read. “Our preliminary findings show that lightning struck the transformer supplying power to the community, causing the surge. The transformer itself was in good condition.”
The company further advised residents to use certified electrical contractors to ensure proper wiring and earthing in order to prevent future tragedies.