A 100-level student of Taraba State Polytechnic, Iorhee Saanmoyol Paul, has undergone a double amputation after being electrocuted while hoisting a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag in Jalingo, the state capital.
The incident occurred on May 21, 2025, near the polytechnic’s gate along the Roadblock–ATC Road. Paul reportedly suffered a severe electric shock when the metal pole he was using to raise the flag accidentally came into contact with a high-tension power line.
He was immediately rushed to Gilead Hospital in Jalingo for emergency treatment before being referred to the National Orthopedic Hospital within the Taraba State Specialist Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. After 28 days of intensive care, doctors were left with no choice but to amputate both hands on June 19 in order to save his life.
The Taraba State Government has since taken responsibility for his medical expenses.
Speaking on the incident, the Coordinator of Operation Keep Taraba Clean, Iliya Kefas, expressed optimism for Paul’s recovery and urged the government to provide him with prosthetic limbs and vocational rehabilitation to help him regain independence.
Paul, who remains under medical care, expressed deep gratitude for the support he has received but appealed for further assistance to help him rebuild his life.
“My joy today is that I am alive, even though I couldn’t fulfill my plans. When I woke up in the hospital, I asked myself, ‘Why am I alive?’ But the Bible says there’s nothing you can give in exchange for your life, so I must thank God,” he said.
Reflecting on his situation, Paul added, “Today, my classmates are writing their first-semester exams, and I’m here. That’s God.”
