Welder Arrested After Apprentice Dies of Electrocution in Ogun

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three individuals following the death of a 23-year-old apprentice in the Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

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

The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to *DAILY POST* on Friday, stating that the victim’s father, Emmanuel Abah, reported the incident to the Ifo division at about 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Odutola noted that the victim, along with his boss, Azeez Salami, a truck driver, and Olaleye Kamaldeen, the owner of an Iveco truck registered as T 7146 LA, Lagos, had arrived at the workshop with a minibus 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, resulting in the victim’s immediate electrocution.

Upon receiving 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 continue, while the welding machine and exposed wire were taken as exhibits.

Odutola added that the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and possible prosecution. She advised business owners and artisans to prioritize workplace safety measures to prevent such tragic and avoidable incidents.