Thunder-strike Five Injured Two Killed

Five of the thunderbolt victims with injury, were taken to government hospital at Siddipet for treatment.

Twenty-five year-old Aliyu Salihu and a 13-year-old student of an Islamic school identified as Abbas, reportedly died on Friday evening after they were struck by thunder in Pogo

Community, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, an incident which another injured too.

The thunder struck during a light rain shower at about 8pm, killing Aliyu and Abbas instantly and leaving Abdullahi with injuries.

Confirming the incident, Aliyu’s father, Malam Salihu Makeri who pointed the spot where the incident occurred while speaking to newsmen, said the victims were harvesting mangoes when lightning suddenly enveloped the community with the accompanying thunder.

“It was like electric sparks, followed by a heavy thunderstorm which shook the entire community. People were screaming in front of my house and when I rushed out, I saw three figures lying under the mango tree. Abbas and my son, Aliyu, died on the spot, but Abdullahi was injured” he said.

Punch reported that grieving father, described the death of Aliyu, his eldest child, as “devastating,” adding that the family had before his death encouraged him to get married, but he died single.

However Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar, said the incident was not reported to the police. “I am not aware of the incident; it was not reported to us” he said.

In a similar incident that occurred at Balvantapur village in Dubbak mandal, India, two persons were killed and eight injured as thunderbolt struck them.

According to sources, K Yellavva (50), Ch. Roja (20) went to farm with about eight labourers to take up some work. However, heavy rain forced them to take shelter under a neem tree. A thunderbolt hit the tree resulting in the instant death of Yellavva and Roja.