a church service in Aba after fumes from the church's generating set
choked them to death and left 15 others critically injured.
Nigeria is the world's largest importer of medium sized generators and
the seconds largest purchaser of large generators behind Saudi
Arabia. Due to incessant epileptic power supply, such generators are
required to power everything, including private homes, churches,
mosques, schools, hospital and even government offices.
Unlike in Saudi Arabia where these generator plants are located in
industrial sites in the middle of the desert, in Nigeria, the
generators are in residential areas. It is not uncommon across Nigeria
to see houses with up to 10 tenants engulfed with noise and fume
pollution as each of the occupant runs his or her generator.
This is what led to the tragedy in Aba, as the worshippers suffocated
after they allegedly inhaled generator fume at an inter-denominational
fellowship. At the event organised by the Young Peoples Christian
Fellowship in Aba, Abia State, it is believed that 16 persons died
inside the hall, while 15 suffered respiratory illnesses were in
various hospitals receiving medical attention.
One six year-old boy was reported to have been declared dead even
before police could gain entrance into the scene of incident. However,
those injured are said to be responding well to treatment, with 11
persons currently receiving medical attention at Austine Grace
Hospital while four are on admission at the Goodness and Mercies
Hospital on Faulks Road, Aba.
Dr Mark Iwuagwu, a medical doctor at one of the hospitals where the
victims were rushed to for medical attention attributed their
illnesses to negligence. He added that they suffered carbon monoxide
poison, which they inhaled from a generator outside the hall where the
service was being hosted.
No comments:
Post a Comment