Lightening strikes 4 kids dead on Children's Day

This year’s Children Day celebration was marred by tragedy at Gure town in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, as four female children were killed by lightening.

This came on a day a woman went berserk at Otta in Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State, stabbing her three-year-old son to death.


It was that the lightening at Gure, a popular ancient town and the commercial nerve centre of Baruten council, struck during a downpour between 12 midnight of Tuesday and 1a.m of yesterday.

The lightening was said to have killed all the children instantly, three of who were of the same parents. The fourth one came to pass the night with the other victims. The injured ones have been hospitalised.

Sources said the lightening broke down the wall of the house, and that the remains of the victims have been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

It was further learned that the down pour also blew off the roofing sheets of many houses in the town, rendering some residents homeless.

Council boss calls for assistance

Speaking on the ugly development yesterday, the ýChairman of the local government, Mallam Mohammed Omar-Bio, who confirmed the incident, described it as a devastating and pathetic experience.

He appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and other disaster management agencies to provide succour for the victims of the disaster.

Omar-Bio, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer of the council, Mr. Jubril Masene, said with the development, the number of rain disaster victims in the area was more than 200.