By Destiny Akunesi
A yet to be identified man has been confirmed dead after he was electrocuted in the early hours of Wednesday in what was described as a failed attempt to vandalise a transformer at Government Secondary school Owerri.
The Security man at the school Mr. Iwu said the man must have jumped the school fence late in the night to have access to the transformer which was donated to the school by 1970 class of the Old Boys Association.
According to Mr. Iwu the incident must have occurred around 1am when they noticed that light has been restored.
He said it was in the morning when they discovered a lifeless body inside the transformer that is also fenced with barbed wire located on the left once you enter the school gate.
Mr. Chukwujindu Anyikwa the Principal of the school who is also an Old Boy of the school said on noticing the incident, reported to it to the Secondary Education Management Board ( SEMB) and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company ( EEDC) formerly NEPA.
The two agencies according to Mr. Anyikwa visited the scene of the incident and confirmed it.
The Education Secretary Mrs. Azubuike Augustina, SEMB Legal Director Barr. Leo Iwuoma and Director of Planning Research & Strategy Dr.(Mrs) Agim were members of the Education Board that came to see the incident.
They advised the Principal to contact the Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO) Imo state Command.
When they contacted the PPRO ASP Henry Okoye, he referred them to the DPO Shell Camp Police Station.
It was after making entry at the Police Station that they were advised to go to Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri formerly Federal Medical Centre ( FMC) mortuary with Police report so they can come and evacuate the corpse .
After confirming the Police report, the mortuary attendants came with ambulance and took the corpse.
When I spoke with the PPRO Imo state Command ASP Henry Okoye on phone, he confirmed the incident.
He advised the School authority to engage more security personnel especially at night.
Some of the Old Boys of the school who spoke on the incident condemned the act.
According to them most of the structures in the school were built by the Old Boys as a way of giving back to their alma mater: Government Secondary School Owerri,the school they love so much.
The National President of the Old Boys Association Dr. Etofolam Osuji mni when contacted said he has received the report.
He said Security has been a major challenge to the school coupled with over population.
The Principals, Staff and Students of the school are appealing to the Government to come to their rescue by providing armed security personnel that will safeguard the structures and facilities in the school.
Government Secondary school Owerri founded in 1935 is situated along Okigwe road close to the Correctional Center ( Prisons) and the new Fire service station.
The school which is one of the Government owned schools has produced many eminent Nigerians.
However, it appears that the past and present Governments are not doing much for the school.
If not for the intervention of the Old Boys the school would have been nothing to write home about.
Some of the challenges facing the school from my finding are : over population of students, inadequate teachers, security, infrastructural decay, poor road network, risk by students crossing the ever busy road as there is no footbridge across the road, no zebra crossing or speed bumps.
