The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the death of five persons and injuries to 13 others following a high-voltage power surge in the Tudun-Wadan Pantami community of Gombe Metropolis. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, triggering panic among residents.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the tragic event was attributed to an electrical surge from a nearby transformer. Police officers from the Low-cost Divisional Headquarters were dispatched to the scene immediately after the report was received.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the unfortunate incident claimed the lives of five individuals, while thirteen others sustained various degrees of injuries,” Abdullahi said.
The injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment at various health facilities across the state. The deceased have been taken to different morgues: three to the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe, one to the State Specialist Hospital, and another to the Bolari Filin Kwallo Mortuary.
DSP Abdullahi, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Bello Yahaya, conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a swift recovery. He also assured the public that the command would carry out a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the surge and ensure accountability.
“Members of the public are urged to remain calm and cooperate with emergency and investigation teams as efforts are being made to prevent future occurrences,” the statement added.
The incident has raised concerns about power infrastructure safety in residential areas, prompting calls from residents for immediate government intervention and technical assessment of transformers in the state.
