A powerful electric surge from a transformer in the Tudun-Wadan Pantami area of Gombe metropolis has caused the lives of five residents and left 13 others.

In the early hours of Saturday, the Gombe State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Buhari Abdullahi.

According to DSP Abdullahi, the fatal surge came from a nearby electricity transformer, shocking residents as they began their day.

He said officers from the Low-cost Divisional Police Headquarters quickly responded to secure the area and ensure victims were taken to hospitals.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the unfortunate incident claimed the lives of five individuals, while thirteen others sustained various degrees of injuries,” he stated.

He explained that the injured victims were receiving treatment in different health facilities across the state.

“The deceased have been deposited at the following morgues: three at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe, one at the State Specialist Hospital and one at Bolari Filin Kwallo Mortuary,” he added.

On behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Bello Yahaya, Mr Abdullahi extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and wished the injured a swift and full recovery.

He assured residents that the police would do everything possible to unravel the cause of the power surge.

“He assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the surge and ensure accountability where necessary,” the statement read.

Investigation into the cause of the surge has begun as the police call for calm.

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Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire in a double wholesale shop along Umuohu Okpula Ndume axis of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia, Abia State on Friday.

The inferno happened just six days after midnight fire destroyed property in another shop at Abriba street by Owerri road in the same city.

Narrating her predicament to Ekwutosblog in tears, the victim of the latest fire incident, Mrs Abigail Uzodinma, said it was  strange as she could not explain how her shop would go up in flames when there was no electricity supply or inflammable materials.

She said that she received a surprise phone call at midnight that her shops stocked with millions of Naira worth of goods were on fire.

Among the items gutted by fire were bags of rice, garri condiments among other valuable goods.

She said the destroyed goods were worth about 70  million Naira

Mrs Uzodinma begged  the Abia State government  and  individuals to come to her aid to enable her pay the debt she incurred and return to business.

Ekwutosblog gathered that  it was the intervention of the men of Abia  State Fire Service and  residents that prevented the fire from escalating to other buildings around the area.

In a related development, a 43-year-old businesswoman, Mrs Njideka Okoye has cried out that thieves stole all the 70 bags of rice in her shop located at World Bank Housing Estate in Umuahia.

Mrs Okoye, who said that the thieves broke her shop and carted away the goods at night, said that the incident happened a few days after she packed into the shop.

The victim begged for assistance from the Abia State government and individuals, even as she called for the arrest and prosecution of the thieves.