Tension in Abuja as Road Sweeper Fatally Electrocuted

A female street sweeper, identified as Anna Zadabin, tragically lost her life after being electrocuted by a fallen high-voltage wire on Friday, December 6.

Uptown Press gathered that, the incident occurred around 1 p.m. near the Open University Centre along the busy Abuja-Kubwa expressway.

Zadabin, a resident of Dutsen-Alhaji in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was carrying out her duties alongside colleagues when the accident happened.

 

Eyewitnesses reported that the wire, which appeared to have been in a state of disrepair, came loose and struck the victim as she worked on the roadside. Efforts to save her life proved futile as she succumbed to the high-voltage shock instantly.

 

Her body was initially taken to the Kubwa General Hospital morgue but was later retrieved and buried on the same day in accordance with her wish, as revealed by a relative, Hajara.

 "She had always expressed a desire to be buried immediately after her death," Hajara shared with reporters.

 

Anna, who worked daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., was known for her dedication to keeping the streets clean. Her typical route stretched from the Dutsen-Alhaji gate to Phase 2, cleaning both lanes of the expressway.

 

The District Head of Dutsen-Alhaji, Alhaji Abubakar Bako, confirmed the incident and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. He called for better maintenance of electrical infrastructure to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.

 

Residents of the area have since expressed their shock and grief, while community leaders have urged relevant authorities to investigate the incident and take measures to ensure the safety of workers and pedestrians near high-risk areas.