Thunderstorm Kills Ex-Councilor, Two Other

Three persons, including a former councilor, have been reportedly struck to death by a thunderstorm at Otu-Jeremi Town in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Our correspondent learnt that the incident took place at 4pm on Tuesday during a downpour at the Osieta Avenue, a border quarter between Otu-Jeremi and Otor-Udu communities.

Sources revealed that one person was injured by the thunderstorm at a different location in the area.

It was gathered that the trio were waiting for the rain to subside when the thunderstorm struck, killing three of the four persons in the building.

Community sources identified the victims as Mr. Matthew Utuama, Gabriel Emeruo Djoma and a Mechanic, whose name could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.

The Late Utuama, who was said to be a former councilor in the community, and two other victims were waiting at the premises of Djoma when they were struck by the thunderstorm.

The deceased died instantly, sources told our correspondent on Wednesday.

According to them, the unidentified mechanic had traveled to the area from Onitsha to repair a tipper engine reportedly owned by one of the deceased.

The injured victim was in another location working under the rain when the thunder struck.

A friend who had accompanied the mechanic from Onitsha, Anambra State, was said to have survived unhurt.

It was gathered that the corpses of Utuama and Djoma had been deposited at the morgues in the area while the corpse of the mechanic had been taken to Onitsha on Wednesday for burial.

A police source at the Out-Jeremi Police State confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying that the matter was being investigated.

However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Chuks Oresewezie, when contacted said he had not been briefed on the incident.