Nkem
Anekwe, the elder sister of Oluchi Anekwe, a first-class student of the
University of Lagos, who was on Tuesday electrocuted by a high-tension
wire, says the negligence of the UNILAG Medical Center caused the death
of her younger sister.
She also said the high-tension wire,
which caused the death of Oluchi also fell on her younger sister, Uju
Anekwe, but she survived the encounter.
This is just as the National Association
of Nigerian Students, South-West zone, said it would sue the
electricity distribution company for the death.
Nkem told our correspondent that Uju, a
student of the College of Medicine, Idi Araba, was injured by the cable
and was also hospitalised. She added that the young lady had been
discharged and was recuperating at home.
PUNCH Metro
had reported that academic activities at the university were paralysed
on Wednesday as students of the institution protested against the death
of Oluchi, a 300-Level student of the Department of Accounting.
Twenty-two-year-old Oluchi and her
sister were returning from an evening Mass, when the high-tension wire
fell on them at about 7pm.
When PUNCH Metro visited the
Anekwes’ on Thursday, Nkem, a lawyer, stated that both ladies were
initially rushed alive to the medical centre, adding that Oluchi could
have survived if she was promptly attended to.
She said, “It was not only Oluchi that
the wire fell on; it also injured Uju. I got to know about the incident
at about 8pm. I quickly rushed to the university’s medical centre. When I
got there, Uju told me that she and Oluchi had held each other’s hands
as they walked to the hostel.
“The wire fell on Oluchi’s left arm, and
the two of them were electrocuted. Oluchi lost consciousness
immediately, while Uju managed to call out to passersby to help them.
Siblings
“Both of them were rushed to the medical
centre. The officials on duty requested their identity cards and said
they would not do anything until the cards were brought. When I got to
the centre, Oluchi was alive, as her eyes were open and her body was
warm and normal, but only her left arm was stiff. I asked the medical
personnel if any first-aid was given to her, but they did not reply me.”
As of the time of visit, Uju, who was said to be sleeping in an inner room, did not talk with PUNCH Metro.
Oluchi’s father, Chief Basil Anekwe,
said Oluchi’s death was a great loss to the family. He added that the
university’s authorities should ensure that his daughter’s autopsy was
done, and a death certificate issued promptly.
He said, “On Sunday, when I saw Oluchi,
she said I should send her some money for upkeep. On Tuesday, I was
planning to send about N30,000 to her, when I learnt about the incident.
I was initially told it was a mere accident.
“I am only glad that my daughter did not
die returning from a party or an offensive place; she died returning
from the presence of God. The university delegation this morning brought
a letter to me from the VC.”
The mother, who was distraught, was said to be unavailable for comment as of the time of PUNCH Metro
Father
PUNCH
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