3 arrested as man dies of electrocution at welding workshop in Ogun

Saturday, March 8, 2025 - Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three persons following the death of a 23-year-old apprentice in Ifo local government area of the state.

The victim identified as Jonathan Emmanuel, died of electrocution at a welding workshop belonging to one Oladokun Johnson, in the Asimolowo area of Ifo.

The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirming the incident on Friday, said the victim’s father, Emmanuel Abah, reported the incident to the Ifo division at about 6:00 pm on Thursday.

Odutola noted that the victim, alongside his boss, Azeez Salami, a truck driver and one Olaleye Kamaldeen, the owner of an Iveco truck registered as T 7146 LA, Lagos, had arrived the workshop with a mini bus carrying about ten truck rims for offloading.

According to Odutola, the welder was working on a container at his workshop, using a welding machine with an exposed live wire when one of the rims came into contact with the exposed wire and resulted in the victim’s immediate electrocution.

Upon the information officers were dispatched to the scene and the victim was rushed to the General Hospital, where the attending doctor confirmed him as brought in dead.

Odutola said, “The incident was reported at Ifo Divisional Police Headquarters on March 6, 2024, at about 1800 hrs by Mr. Emmanuel Brown Abah, the father of the deceased.

“He stated that he received information from Azeez Salami, a truck driver and the deceased’s master, about his son’s electrocution.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that Oladokun Johnson, a welder, was working on a container at his workshop, using a welding machine with an exposed live wire.

“At the time of the incident, Olaleye Kamaldeen, the owner of an Iveco truck (Reg. No. T 7146 LA, Lagos), had arrived with a mini bus carrying about ten truck rims for offloading.

“While Azeez Salami (truck driver), Olaleye Kamaldeen (truck owner), and Jonathan Emmanuel (victim) were rolling the rims towards the truck, one of the rims came into contact with the exposed wire, resulting in the victim’s immediate electrocution.”

She noted that the welder, truck owner and driver have been arrested and are currently in custody as investigations are ongoing, while the welding machine and exposed wire were taken as exhibits.

Odutola while adding that the case will be transferred to the SCID for further investigation and possible prosecution, advised business owners and artisans to prioritize workplace safety measures to prevent such tragic and avoidable incidents.

The incident comes few days after Ishaku Monday, a 19-year-old machine operator, at Xinfeng Plastics Limited along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, lost his life due to electrocution while operating a palletising machine inside the factory.