An eight-year-old pupil of Matha Day Secondary School, Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Master Stephen Akana, has been struck dead by ferocious lightning.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday when Akanama, a Junior Secondary School 1 pupil, was allegedly playing a football match with his mates under the thunderstorm during a downpour.
It was gathered the deceased, who is from the Kolo community but residing with his aunt at Imiringi, was in the company of his age-mates when the lightning struck him dead.
The deceased and his friends were said to be playing the football match behind a popular pub in the area before the incident occurred.
A close family source, who spoke anonymously, said prior to the incident, the deceased was indoors all through Wednesday until probably when a heavy rainfall started.
The source said: ”I can’t say if he left home as the rain was about to begin. To our surprise, a woman rushed to the house to tell us that our brother is dead. I could not believe it and rushed to the scene.
“Upon sighting him on the ground, we rushed him to Christ the King hospital and he was confirmed dead on arrival.”
Contacted on the development, the spokesman for the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said the incident had yet to be reported at the Kolo Divisional Headquarters covering the area.
Source: The Nation