How Thunder Lighting Strikes Three Dead In Delta After A Fatal ‘Phone Call’

Three persons have been reported dead after a fatal phone call amidst heavy down pour accompanied by thunder lighting in Otu-Jeremi Community, Delta State

BIGPEN ONLINE gathered that the victims were killed during a heavy rain fall which lasted for 30 minutes in Osiete avenue, a suburb of Otu-Jeremi Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Amongst the three victims is Matthew Utuama, a younger brother to the former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama.

The other victim include, Emeruo Tebite, younger brother to Hon. Talib Tebite, member representing the people of Ughelli South in the Delta State House of Assembly.

The other victim was a Mechanic from Anambra state who was in the community to repair a broken down tipper belonging to the younger Utuama.

Sources said the incident happened after a call came into one of the victims’ handset while the rain was pouring heavily with thunder lighting.

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According to the eyewitness, “The fourth got call and went outside before the unfortunate incident occurred.

“Three persons were waiting for the heavy downpour to subside when they were hit by the thunder. Nobody knows how it happened but three of them were found on the floor dead, an eyewitness said.

“One of the victims who only sustained injury at a nearby building was the one who drew the attention of neighbours to the incident. The survivor was hit on his back. A friend who accompanied the mechanic was not injured.”

“It was a stormy, thunderous rain at the time. At his Osieta Avenue Compound In Jeremi, Oghenemeruo, Utuama and the mechanic invited from Onitsha, Anambra state were battling to fix his broken down tippers.

“Strangely, lightening struck and that was it. All three of them died in spite of spirited communal efforts to save them. I have heard tales of fatal lightening. I could not have imagined its impact could kill three grown men in one strike.”

A Senior Police Officer attached to Otu -Jeremy who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the report pointing out that the decease have been deposited at the morgue.

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“The matter was incidented here at the Police Station and upon further investigation, it was discovered that the victims were all killed by lightening which struck while it was raining, the police source said.

When contacted, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeyinka Adeleke said he was already aware of the incident but yet to receive official report concerning the death. “Yes, I heard of it but am yet to receive the official report. Somebody told me of it”, he added.