18 MAPAITES ESCAPE ELECTRICUTION

 Eighteen students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic , Abeokuta, on Thursday narrowly escaped electrocution on their way to school. The incident occurred at Oluwo junction area of the town at about 7.45 a.m. when an electric pole belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) fell on a bus conveying the students.

 The bus, a Nissan Urvan marked Lagos EW 78 SMK, was smashed on impact. However, luck was on the side of the students as there was no electricity supply in the area at the time of the incident. According to witnesses, the electric pole toppled after it was rammed into by a caterpillar belonging to the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). The company, which is under contract from the Ogun State Government to repair major roads in the state, was carrying out construction works in the area where the accident occurred.

 The bus was coming from Oluwo area of the town and was trying to link Ojere/Kolobo road when it was stopped by a Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) official controlling the traffic situation at the junction. It was at that point that the pole fell on the vehicle. The students were immediately rescued from the smashed vehicle by on-lookers. The shaken bus driver, who gave his name as Ondo, attributed the narrow escape to God’s favour. He added that negotiation was on with the construction company on how to repair the damaged vehicle.

 When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of MAPOLY, Sulaiman Adebiyi, described the incident as an unfortunate one but said that all the students involved escaped without any injury. He also appealed to parents to remain calm as the situation was under control.

“It is a very unfortunate incident but we thank God all our students involved are now in school receiving lectures,” he said.