Thunderstorm kills student, three other youths in Ondo

The thunderstorm has killed no fewer than four youths including students in the Ago Dada community, in Akure North local government area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening during a rainfall in the village when the youths were playing football.

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that the four youths who were killed by thunderstorms were all non-indigenes of the village.

The incident revealed that the four youths died on the spot before any help could reach them.

The development caused tension as residents of the community trooped to the scene of the incident.

A resident explained that the four young men were playing football when the lightning suddenly enveloped the community with the accompanying thunder, killing the four of them.

He said, “the lightning was like an electric spark and a heavy thunderstorm which shook the entire community and by the time we know it, people have been screaming in front of the deceased house after discovering that they have been struck by the lightning.”

A resident explained that the four young men were inside a house when the lightning suddenly enveloped the community with the accompanying thunder, killing the four of them.

He said, “the lightning was like an electric spark and a heavy thunderstorm which shook the entire community and by the time we know it, people have been screaming in front of the deceased house after discovering that they have been struck by the lightning.”

Another source, however, said the death of the four men who were not indigenes of the community sparked controversy between the youths and some leaders of the community, leading to protests by some aggrieved youths.

He disclosed that the protest led to the destruction of properties and said ” the youths of the village went rampage this morning which resulted in injuring of an elderly man in the village.

The grouse of the youths was that the four youths killed were all non-indigenes. Some buildings belonging to Akure indigenes were vandalised,” he explained.

Meanwhile, some traditionalists adherent visited the scene of the incident to perform some rites and appease the gods before the bodies of the men could be buried.

He said “I was told that we could not immediately remove their bodies. They said Sango adherents must perform some rites.”

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Confirming the development when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident but denied there was a protest in the village.

Odunlami said, “I can confirm to you that four youths were killed by thunder in the village, but there was no protest leading to another death in the village. Maybe there was an argument when the families of those affected wanted to pick up the remains of the victims for burial. It was a painful thing, but who do they want to protest to?”

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