FOOTBALL TRAGEDY: CABLE THAT ELECTROCUTED FANS HAD FALLEN TWICE BEFORE

Fresh facts have emerged on how over 30 persons were electrocuted on Thursday night in Calabar, Cross River State, while watching the UEFA Europa League quarter-final match between Manchester United and Anderlecht. An eye witness said the Thursday incident was the third time the cable would fall.
The eyewitness, who was monitored on Channels Television said: “I saw more than 20 people in the vehicle; some gave up instantly while others were unconscious.
There were also those who were semi conscious. I also know of a little boy that was affected. This was the third time it happened. The first was in 2004, while the second happened last year before this latest incident.”
The incident happened about 9.30 pm at the popular first transformer Nyagasang area of Atimbo in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area. 28 out of the victims were said to have died on the spot while two died in the hospital with about 50 others injured. The electrocution of the victims happened when a nearby transformer exploded twice during the match.
The second time, the high tension wire snapped and dropped on the viewing centre built with zinc.Another eyewitness monitored on the station recalled that before the incident, everywhere was jampacked and after it, people were running to different directions looking for escape route. The witness recalled that: “Everybody was running to and from the door.
The incident took many unawares. The high tension wire suddenly cut and dropped on top of the zinc. That was how people got stuck. Those that came in contact with the trapped victims were also electrocuted. If they had sat down where they were, perhaps, the deaths would have been minimal.”
For Uket Timothy, he only cheated death by the whiskers. He had gone to the viewing centre with his friends to watch the match which started at 8.15pm.
Timothy, who is one of the lucky few currently recuperating at the teaching hospital, said: “We just heard ‘gbooa’ and the light went off. The owners of the viewing centre put on the generator and the jam-packed hall came alive again. But it was temporary as another explosion, this time with balls of fire, sent people scampering unfortunately to their death.
“I am happy that I am alive unlike all my friends who sat around me and unfortunately were not as lucky as they died at the centre. In fact, I can say that I have cheated death.” At this point, emotion took over and he sobbed. Another survivor, who gave his name as Bassey Asuquo, said he would forever live to thank God for the miraculous way he survived the incident.
He said: “I sat in the middle, close to the tarpaulin but I when I saw people running and fire on top of the zinc of the centre, I was confused but I refused to rush to the door. I stood there and by the time I tried to jump through the side where the tarpaulin was, I lost my senses. “I did not know anything again. I have just been informed that this is a hospital and I’m wandering how I got here.
God did not want me to die.” A woman, who could not be controlled as she cried and wept, said she sent her daughter to buy something for her and as the girl was coming back, the incident happened, with the wire dropping on her. She died on the spot.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and former President of the Senate, David Mark, yesterday expressed sadness over the tragic event. President Buhari in a statement issued yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, commiserated with the government and people of the state and football fans nationwide over the unfortunate incident. On his part, Atiku in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said: “No one deserves to die in this way, particularly in the pursuit of their passion.”
Similarly, Ayade, who promised to settle the bills of those still in the hospital, ordered the setting up of a commission of inquiry on the viewing centre tragedy.
The governor, who gave the directive through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, described the incident as tragic and horrifying.
Ayade said: “The incident marks a dark chapter in the life of the state where the precious lives of football lovers have been lost. “At this point in time, it is sad to know that the victims lost their lives at a viewing centre where they usually converge, at their leisure time, to watch matches.”
Meanwhile, Mark in a condolence message to Ayade, said it was sad that such young people met their untimely deaths while watching a game that should ordinarily bring joy and excitement to them.
Mark stated: “The death of over 30 soccer fans in one incident is a huge loss to the nation. It is more tragic because these were promising Nigerians who looked forward to a rewarding future.”