By Oluwatosin Maliki
In a tragic incident, lightning struck and killed three students from Tansi College, Okpuno, in Anambra State.
Quest Times learned that the students were outside, participating in a football training session on the school field when the tragedy occurred on a Sunday evening.
According to an eyewitness, lightning struck nine male students who were playing football barefoot with their peers on the school’s pitch. The anonymous witness explained, “The students were practicing on the football pitch with their coach in preparation for a tournament. The coach had concluded the training session before the rain began, but some of the students stayed behind to continue playing football.”
He added, “Suddenly, lightning, with claps of thunderstorms, enveloped the area, and the boys were struck.”
Furthermore, the witness recounted that a teacher heard the students screaming for help and saw at least nine students trembling and jerking on the turf when he arrived at the field. The teacher quickly raised the alarm, and community residents gathered to provide assistance.
The injured boys were quickly transported to the school clinic and subsequently to a hospital in Awka. Six of them were revived and are currently receiving treatment, but unfortunately, three did not survive.
A doctor at the hospital, who requested anonymity, confirmed that three of the boys were brought to the hospital deceased, while the other six were resuscitated. He also mentioned that the parents of two of the deceased boys had already claimed their bodies, while one remained in the mortuary.
The doctor expressed sorrow that the boys were playing on the field barefoot, emphasizing that if they had been wearing boots, the impact of the lightning might have been less severe.
According to DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson of the Anambra Police Command, the police authorities in the state have not yet received a report about the incident.
In response to this tragic event, Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate for the 2023 election, described the development as a “great loss.” He expressed his condolences on his social media handle, saying, “I am greatly saddened by the unfortunate natural disaster that occurred at Tansi International College, Awka, this weekend. It was reported that 9 students of the College were struck by lightning on Saturday, November 4, during a rainstorm.”
“Sadly, three of the students lost their lives, while the rest are responding to treatment at the hospital. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families, students, and the management of the College. May God give them the strength to bear this great loss.”