Three persons were on Saturday struck dead by lightning in Afikpo, in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Ugamatv gathered that the incident happened at Ngodo community during a downpour which lasted for over five hours.

It was learnt that the lightning struck around 3pm, killing the three persons in different locations in the area.

A resident of Afikpo, Iheukwumere Otu, said one of the deceased persons was from Cross River State who had been living in the area for some years.

He said, “Yes, it is true that lightning killed three persons in our place. There was a heavy rainfall that day, which was accompanied by serious lightning.

 “The lightning killed the three persons on the spot and it occurred in two different places. It killed two in Ngodo community and another person in another place.”

He described the tragedy as unfortunate and first of its kind in the area.

Another resident, Eze Egwu, told our correspondent that the downpour started around 10am.

Read Also Imo Speaker defends suspension of six colleagues

He noted that the rain was so heavy that residents could not go out for business activities.

Egwu, the youth president of the Egeburu-Amaokwiri in the area, said the rain lasted for over five hours before the lightning struck.

He, however disputed the figure of those killed, stating that only two persons died.

“My brother, what you heard is true, but two persons were killed and it occurred in Ngodo. It is true that lightning struck two persons dead in Ngodo,” he added.

A spokesperson for the police in the state, Mrs Loveth Odah, said she was not aware of the incident as of the time of filing this report.