Rivers Police arrest pastor over electrocution accident with church’s billboard
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested an assistant pastor of a new generation church after five people were electrocuted when mounting a billboard for the church.
Nine men were said to have been electrocuted on Monday when a metal billboard they were installing for the church touched a high-tension cable in the Rumuosi area of Obiri-Kwere in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
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Five of them died on the spot while the four others were rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, while confirming the arrest said, “Yes, I can confirm that the assistant pastor of the Church has been arrested.
“He is in the custody of the China Police Division as we speak. An investigation is still ongoing.”
Also, officials of the Rivers State Signage and Advertising Agency, on Tuesday, sealed the church.
Also sealed was the billboard stand which was still at the scene of the electrocution along the Obiri-Kwere stretch of the East-West Road, as the two areas had been cordoned off with tapes.
The Managing Director of the RSAA, Dr Anthony Okeah, said no approval was given for the installation of the billboard.
He warned those engaging in such form of outdoor advertising without the agency’s approval to desist forthwith, saying defaulters would be sanctioned.
If you must practise advertisement, you must go the right way. You must be certified and you must abide by the rules and regulations of the signage agency,” he said.
