Thunderstorm kills 14-year-old student in Niger

A 14-year-old student of Police Secondary School, Minna, identified as Yahaya Ibrahim Tafida, has reportedly been killed by a thunderstorm in Lapai, the headquarters of Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State. A resident of Lapai, Mohammed Musa, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred around 6pm on Monday while the victim and his friends […]

A 14-year-old student of Police Secondary School, Minna, identified as Yahaya Ibrahim Tafida, has reportedly been killed by a thunderstorm in Lapai, the headquarters of Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
A resident of Lapai, Mohammed Musa, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred around 6pm on Monday while the victim and his friends were playing football at the Government Girls’ Day Secondary School football field.
He said the teenager took shelter under a tree when rain accompanied by a strong windstorm began.
“When the rain and windstorm started, they could not return home, so they hid under a tree. Suddenly, lightning struck, and the boy died on the spot,” he said.
Residents said the tragic incident threw the community into mourning.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, were unsuccessful.
His phone line could not be reached, and he did not respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.