BEDC Slams Report Describing Victim Of Electrocution In Ughelli As Staff
THE purported electrocution of a man working on a high tension facility in Ughelli in Delta State did not involve workers of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the electricity company has clarified in a statement by Head, Branding and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen, who stated that investigation is ongoing so as to get to the root of the matter.
Gbiwen expressed sadness that the faceless writer of the report was in a haste to make the publication, describing it as most unprofessional and unbecoming of someone who claimed to be a member of the journalism profession. She said the self-styled journalist called her claiming to be the correspondent of a popular state-owned media outfit.
Rather, the report later appeared in one online site known as “reubenabati.com.ng”, with an unfounded title: “Electricity Distribution Company Worker Electrocuted In Delta”.
According to Gbiwen, the report falsefully stated that “an employee of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC), was on Monday electrocuted while carrying out repairs on a 33KVA line. The tragedy occurred at Evwreni community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.”
Then the writer veered off, saying that “LEADERSHIP gathered that the deceased simply identified as Kingsley was electrocuted while reconnecting a damaged cable on the high tension cable transmitting current to Uwheru, Patani, Bomadi and other communities in the state.”
Gbiwen said that the writer quoted anonymous sources thus: “Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source from Evwreni disclosed that the deceased met his untimely death when electricity was suddenly restored to the high tension pole on which he was working.”
Gbiwen said the faceless author of the unknown online site misled the public when he further wrote that “He is from Evwreni community and we know him as a BEDC Staff all these years until the unfortunate incident occurred on Monday afternoon”, the source said. Gbiwen corrected the writer, saying he was not a BEDC staff.
She said the writer was malicious and tried to make an issue when she said in passing that she was on leave. The report said: “When contacted for her response, BEDC’s Public Relations Officer, Evelyn Gbiwen said she was on leave and has not been briefed about the incident.”
Gbiwen corrected the above assertion by the writer, saying that she only responded that she would get back to him as soon as she gets confirmation, rather the self-styled journalist appeared to had written his report before contacting her.
Gbiwen said that presently, BEDC is investigating the incidence to know what really transpired.
