Two people were reportedly killed in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State on Wednesday by a telecommunications mast said to belong to Globacom.
Those killed were an eleven year old girl, Lawrencia John Asuquo and a middle aged man, Adindu Fynecountry.
Lawrencia was said to be on an errand for her father while Adindu was in his drugstore when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Two others were fatally injured, several other sustained minor injuries and some houses were destroyed. Those critically injured were carried to the General Hospital in Calabar.
The incident happened following a rainstorm that came with severe winds it was gathered. It happened in Ntoe Edet Oqua Street in
Father of the deceased girl, John Asuquo Etok, a staff of Odukpani Local Government Council, was inconsolable yesterday.
“It’s just unfortunate the mast fell and killed my daughter as she went out to buy something from a nearby shop. Her name is Lawrencia John Asuquo and she was about to sit for the Primary 6 exams. She was a pupil of St. Theresa Primary School, Odukpani Qua Town.
“I want government to come to my aid as my house was also destroyed by the wind .I am presently homeless. I want the state emergency management agency (SEMA) and Glo to come and assist me. I have seven children; five boys and two girls,” he said.
Brother of the deceased Fynecountry, Henry Okeke on his own said he received a call that his brother was dead in Odukpani. “When I got to Odukpani, I saw the corpse lying here. I could not do anything than to agree with the police, then we carried his corpse in the police van and deposited it in the mortuary.
Okeke said he would want to meet with officials of the telecommunication company and the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), because, according to him, “There are lots of things we have to address in the matter because it’s a big disaster.
“I have not seen any of them yet to talk to. For now, we are keeping our fingers crossed waiting for their response. He has seven children. For now, I can’t quantify the losses in his shop.”
A lady who sustained some injuries from the incident, Blessing Edim, said she was busy packing her goods as a result of the strong wind when the mast collapsed. “I want government and Glo to come to our aid. The estimated loss of my goods is worth over N100, 000,” she said.
A Globacom official in Calabar who spoke under anonymity, because according to him, he was not authoerised to speak on the issue, however admitted the fallen mast was that of his company.
“The brand has sent emissary to the families of the victims to ensure that there have temporary palliative while awaiting instructions from the brand headquarters in Lagos on how to resolve the issues at stake,” he said.
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