LIGHTNING STRIKES SS3 PUPIL DEAD ON WAEC EXAM DAY [YESTERDAY]

The family of a Senior Secondary School 3
female pupil of Muslim College
Oworonsoki, Lagos, has been thrown into
mourning after lightning struck and killed
19-year-old Celestina Farotide, who was
about to start her final examination the
same morning.
The victim’s father was said to be in shock
and disbelief and had refused to show up
to collect the corpse, saying, “It cannot be
my daughter”.
The aunt of the deceased, Christiana
Idowu, who described her as gentle, quiet
and respectful said she saw her corpse in
the hospital after the family received an
emergency call from one of Celestina’s
friends.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity
because she was not permitted to talk to
journalists, said the incident occurred on
Monday.
She said, “We had finished with the
morning assembly, but some students
were still coming in. Celestina had
prepared her desk in readiness for the
West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate
Examination’s practical they were to have
that morning.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that she later went to
buy the food she would eat and when she
was returning to her class in company with
other students, tragedy struck.
The eyewitness said, “The lightning came in
their direction and immediately three of
the school girls fell down.
“Two of them rose up and ran and
Celestina rose up too. Then the lighteningt
struck the second time, and she (Celestine)
fell finally on the floor and did not rise
again.
‘She was immediately taken to the
teachers’ staff room, where a teacher was
asked to take her to the Gbagada General
Hospital. It was there she was confirmed
dead.”
The principal of the school was said to be
away on a week-long conference in
Makurdi when the incident happened but
authorities of the school contacted
Celestina’s grandmother at New Garage
area of Lagos.
The Lagos State Commissioner for
Education with her entourage were said to
have visited the school on Tuesday
morning.
A resident of the area, Mr. Kabiawu
Babajide, who also claimed to be an
alumnus of the school told our
correspondent the lightning also wreaked
havoc in the area.
The monarch of Oworonsoki land, Oba
Bashir Oloruntodupefun, said the gods
were angry because Oworosoki land had
been desecrated by strangers and the
government was taking over ancestral
lands and selling them to non-indigenes.
He said, “It’s a pity the girl died. The
circumstances surrounding her death are
mysterious because the girl was never sick.
From what happened, we can all see the
gods are making demands.
“The shrines that should be used for
sacrifices have been swept away in water.
And the land we have is being sold by
government officials to their friends and
they send military men to threaten us.
“Government needs to give us our land
back. The real Oworo is submerged in
waters. We want them to help sand fill
those places taken over by water because
many cultural heritage has been lost. If
this is done, evil will no longer occur.”