Isaac Job, Uyo

As the rainy season sets in, the heavy downpour of Sunday, May 12, 2019 in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital has caused serious flooding which has claimed two lives along Atiku Abubakar Way.

The two persons were suspected to have drowned in the flood that followed the heavy rainstorm which occurred Sunday evening between 5:45pm, accompanied by thunder storm that terrorized the entire city leaving two bodies recovered from gutter the following morning.

An eyewitness, Uduak Mbakara revealed that two unidentified corpses were found in the gutter around Atiku Abubakar Way by GWT fuel station.

She said the road has been ravaged by flood over the years and had become impassable during rainy seasons as motorists and tricycle operators always divert through adjoining streets such as Esuene, Ebetaya and other streets to bypass to Abak Road and Akwa Ibom State Secretariat.

“The male and female corpses were recovered this morning in a gutter and the police was immediately informed to evacuate them”.

In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon confirmed the incident and disclosed that the two corpses have taken to mortuary.

Macdon further disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the victims died of electrocution arising from fallen live electric poles which electrified the flood water causing the victims to be electrocuted.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were electrocuted because some fallen electric poles were found around the area giving the impression that they died of electrocution. But our investigations have not been concluded.”

Macdon said the police would continue the investigation to establish identities of the victims so that their bodies can be released to their families

He confirmed that the police has suspected a foul play in the incident and would continue in their findings to establish facts.