Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three individuals following the tragic electrocution of 23-year-old apprentice, Jonathan Emmanuel, at a welding workshop in the Asimolowo area of Ifo Local Government, Ogun State.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Friday in Abeokuta, revealing that the incident was reported to the Ifo Divisional Police Headquarters on March 6, 2025, at about 6:00 PM.

According to Odutola, the victim’s father, Emmanuel Brown Abah, was informed of his son’s death by Azeez Salami, a truck driver and the deceased’s master.

“Police officers immediately visited the scene and assisted in evacuating the victim to the General Hospital, where a doctor confirmed him as ‘Brought In Dead,’” she stated.

How the Tragedy Unfolded
Preliminary investigations revealed that Oladokun Johnson, a welder, was working on a container using a welding machine with an exposed live wire when the incident occurred.

At the time, Olaleye Kamaldeen, the owner of an Iveco truck (Reg. No. T 7146 LA, Lagos), arrived with a minibus carrying ten truck rims for offloading.

“As Azeez Salami (truck driver), Olaleye Kamaldeen (truck owner), and Jonathan Emmanuel (victim) rolled the rims toward the truck, one of them came into contact with the exposed wire, instantly electrocuting the victim,” Odutola explained.

Police Investigation and Safety Advisory
Following the incident, police operatives recovered the welding machine and exposed wire as evidence. The welder, truck owner, and driver were arrested and remain in custody as investigations continue.

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Odutola also urged business owners and artisans to prioritize workplace safety measures to prevent similar avoidable tragedies.