Transformer blast kills two inmates in A'Ibom

A blast caused by a defective transformer near the Akwa Ibom State Custodian Centre resulted in the death of two prisoners who were awaiting...

A blast caused by a defective transformer near the Akwa Ibom State Custodian Centre resulted in the death of two prisoners who were awaiting trial at the facility and injured two more individuals.

Our reporter found out on Thursday that the event that took place two weeks ago led to a power outage during that time and damaged electrical devices in the area.

As per reports, the high-tension cable broke and fell directly onto part of the guard's building, resulting in an electric shock that caused the inmates' deaths.

In the meantime, Frank Okonkwo, the Akwa Ibom State Controller of Corrections, confirmed the death of two individuals awaiting trial at the Uyo detention center on Thursday, and referred to the event as a sad occurrence.

Okonkwo, who expressed regret that the incident also destroyed all electrical equipment at the center, revealed that the victims were thrown from their seats and subsequently taken to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital by the facility's doctor, where they were later declared dead.

He revealed that the victims were pending trials for conspiracy, abduction, and armed robbery, while adding that they were considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.

He mentioned that the families had been informed, and one of them had completed the procedures for retrieving the body, stating that the command would only hand over the corpse once the investigations were finalized.

He stated, "It was highly regrettable, as the incident resulted in significant harm, affecting both our facility and the families of the victims."

When the explosion happened at the transformer, representatives from PHEDC arrived and stated that the incident was caused by excessive voltage. This event impacted us as it actually destroyed all electrical devices and computers in our facility.

It also impacted our barracks, along with the official residence of the officer in charge. However, the most heartbreaking part was that two of our prisoners were affected, ultimately losing their lives while being taken to the hospital.

They were expelled from their place of residence and promptly received initial medical assistance by our staff, who then transported them to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where they were eventually declared deceased.

It was a significant loss, affecting both the individuals involved and the prisoners, particularly since they were still awaiting trial; one was facing charges of conspiracy and kidnapping, while the other was on trial for armed robbery.

The operator, who remembered that the same transformer had issues several years ago, even though no one was harmed, urged the appropriate agency to resolve the problem to prevent it from happening again.

He mentioned that the legal team was looking into the issue and would provide a detailed report in due course.

He also revealed the command's plans to implement a rehabilitation and development program for inmates who have completed the process, stating that these individuals have gained certain skills and will be provided with initial support packages to help them fully reintegrate into society upon their release.

He stated that the program would allow them to be beneficial to both themselves and the community, ensuring they have no reason to commit further offenses and return to the detention center.

We are currently considering 30 because the funding required will be substantial, as we mainly depend on the goodwill of our donors and organizations. These individuals have gained various skills during their time in our care, such as tailoring, carpentry, barbering, and welding. We plan to involve participants from different detention centers, including Uyo, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene, and Eket.

Individuals currently serving sentences who are close to being released between now and December are inmates who have effectively embraced our treatment program by staying productively occupied during their time in our care. These are the people we wish to recognize through this initiative.

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