Have you heard the expression ‘Thunder fire you?’. Well, it came to pass on Tuesday in Aramoko Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State. Tragedy struck when a man believed to be a herbalist Babatunde Sule was killed by thunder strike. The lightning followed him into the kitchen and killed him there. Sule was, until his untimely death, a notable traditionalist and a leader of the traditional worshippers association in the community. He was also said to be a staff of Ekiti State House of Assembly Commission, and his death has thrown the community into a state of confusion.

The incident was said to have occurred in his rented apartment at Oke-Oja area of the town. The unfortunate incident occurred shortly after a heavy downpour which lasted for about two hours in the town. The rain which started at around 4:30 pm with heavy thunder and storm at frequent intervals, caused panic in the town, forcing residents indoor. According to a source which spoke to The Leadership, a thunder spark suddenly entered the deceased’s home and struck him in the chest right where he was cooking in the kitchen. A fellow occupant, staying within the same compound, who was said to have been terrified by the intensity of thunder strike, ran into the kitchen where he met the Sule’s lifeless body in a pool of his blood.

The source added: “The unfortunate incident took everybody in the town unawares because the victim was a notable person in the town and immediately the news filtered into town, an attempt was made to contact some Sango worshippers and as well reported the matter to a divisional police station in the town. The traditional rites have begun and it will last for seven days in the community, which is expected to be accompanied by heavy downpour in the area. This type of incident has never happened in this town that is why everybody is panicking about it”.  Traditional worshippers have already begun traditional rites for the late herbalist and the body has been removed from the scene for burial.

Last weekend, two persons were killed by lightning during a heavy downpour in Odda quarters in Ayetoro Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The two deceased were: Wale Ayeku, a middle-aged man and Joseph fondly called J-Boy. They were both taking shelter at a local “game-joint” not too far from where both of them resided when they met their untimely death. Eyewitnesses said nine of them were struck by lightning where they took shelter under a tree, but only the two men died.

Source: dailyadvent