Five men have lost their lives and four others hospitalized after they were electrocuted while installing billboard at the Obiri-Ikwerre flyover area along the East-West road on Monday in Portharcourt.
The tragedy happened when the billboard they were trying to install had contact with a high-tension wire which sparked and got all who were holding the metallic billboard electrocuted.
Immediately the incident happened, passers-by rushed four who were unconscious to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH.
It was gathered that the victims were contracted to mount a billboard for a particular church, along the Rumuosi axis, near the Obiri-Ikwerre flyover in Portharcourt.
Some of the victims are welders who fabricate metals at the MCC along Ikwere Road close to the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt.
At the time of filing this report, it was not immediately clear if the Rivers State Signage and Advertising Agency, RISSA, an agency that regulates the mounting of Billboards, gave its approval.
Our Correspondent reports, however, that mounting billboards under high-tension wires is prohibited in the state.
Rivers State Police Command and the State RISSDA are yet to issue a statement on the issue.
