MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited Confirms Fatal Electrocution Of Linesman In Enugu Substation Incident

MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited confirms the death of linesman Isaac Dike during an unauthorized substation repair in Enugu's Zoo Estate.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 7:12 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Nation

Fatal Electrical Incident at Ekulu East Estate Substation

MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has officially confirmed the tragic death of one of its technical staff members in Enugu. Mr. Isaac Dike, a professional linesman attached to the company’s Ogui District, lost his life on Wednesday afternoon following a severe electrocution incident. The accident took place at a 300KVA/11KV/0.415KV distribution substation situated on Giraffe Street within the Ekulu East Estate, popularly known as Zoo Estate. Emergency responders retrieved the victim's body from a high-tension pole before transporting him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Preliminary Findings and the Absence of Official Work Orders

An internal review conducted by the utility company has raised significant questions regarding the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. According to Emeka Ezeh, the Head of Communications for MEDL, a check of the company’s Complaint Management System and fault report logs revealed no existing service requests from customers in the Ekulu East Estate area at the time of the incident. Furthermore, there was no documented approval for a power outage to facilitate repairs in that specific zone. These findings suggest that the deceased may have been engaged in an unsanctioned or private assignment without the knowledge of the district's management.

Communication Gaps and Team Coordination Issues

The preliminary investigation further noted a breakdown in standard operational procedures and team communication. While Mr. Dike traveled to the substation with an assigned team driver, the driver reportedly had no knowledge of the specific technical task to be performed or the identity of the individual who had requested the intervention. The deceased had reportedly failed to notify his supervisors or colleagues of his movement to the estate for any official duty. This lack of coordination meant that the necessary safety protocols, which usually accompany high-voltage electrical work, were not in place during the fatal encounter.