From Sylvanus Via shima, Jalingo
An early morning rainstorm yesterday killed five people and injured several others in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of Taraba Specialist Hospital, Jalingo, Dr. Dashe Dasogot, told Sunday Sun that five bodies were brought to the morgue of the hospital after the rainstorm.
“Four of the dead were from a GLO mast that fell opposite the gate of our hospital here and one other was brought from the town,” he said.
According to an eyewitness, Mrs Heriata Anthony, three of her cousins were among the four persons that were killed when a telecommunication mast fell on them during the rainstorm. She gave the names of the victims related to her as Aisha Useni, Felicia Istifanus and Istiah James.
Anthony, who operates a restaurant opposite the gate of the Specialist Hospital, explained that her cousins had left the house early for work in the restaurant when the incident happened.
“They finished cooking and were already selling food to customers around 6.00am when the fall on them.
“Three of them including a customer, a driver to the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Emmanuel Gowon, who came to buy food died instantly, while Miss Konah Danjuma, who was also in the shop sustained shoulder and head injuries,” she said.
Meanwhile, at Taraba State University, Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, Rev. Fr. John Jerome confirmed that the Chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Pontianus Jaffla and seven undergraduates sustained injuries when the makeshift church building collapsed on them. Jerome said the priest and students of the university were in the morning Mass when the building collapsed as a result of the heavy storm that accompanied the early morning rain.
“Rev. Fr. Pontianus, who sustained a head injury and one other student were treated at Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo and discharged, but the remaining six people are still receiving treatment at the same hospital,” he said.
The storm destroyed several places in the town including private residences, offices, schools, police officers, mess and NYSC orientation camp, among other places.