Posted by By VAL OKARA, OWERRI on
Like every other day, the family of Mbakwem of Egbu in Owerri North local government area of Imo State woke up as usual, prayed, and left for the day's business but little did they know on that Saturday, June 25, 2005 that death was lurking at their doorstep.
Like every other day, the family of Mbakwem of Egbu in Owerri North local government area of Imo State woke up as usual, prayed, and left for the day's business but little did they know on that Saturday, June 25, 2005 that death was lurking at their doorstep.
Mrs Oby Benjamin Mbakwem was electrocuted later in the day while assisting their neighbours at Trans Egbu layout Owerri who were sacked by flood resulting from a downpour. Report had it that flood submerged their neighbours at both the ground floor and boys quarters of their building and they were screaming for assistance.
Oby as she was fondly called, was said to be busy evacuating the neighbours' property to a safe place when she had a fall and in the process touched a television antenna pole. She was instantly electrocuted.
Speaking to Daily Sun on the incident, husband of the deceased, Mr. Benjamin Mbakwem stated that his late wife woke him up, drawing his attention to the screaming coming from her neighbours.
Mr. Mbakwem who is the Chief Executive officer of Community and Youth Development Initiative, a non governmental oganisation (NGO) said he had earlier warned his wife to be wary of the area because of its slippery nature.
According to him, few minutes later he heard people shouting the name of his wife and when he rushed to the direction he was unable to locate her. He quickly rushed to the electric switch board and put off the power supply but it was too late as the cold hands of death had snatched Oby.
Mr. Mbakwem said Oby was not just a wife to him but a soul mate and a partner. He described the late wife as a great motivator and above all his best friend.
Owerri and its environs witnessed the heaviest rainfall since the beginning of the year on June 25, as it rained cats and dogs, sacking many homes.