There have been widespread reports about Cows which were struck dead in Ondo State. Many have ascribed the event to something supernatural but the occurrence does not appear strange to science nor recent history, and there may be a regular explanation for it.
About 36 cows, reportedly belonging to Fulani herdsmen, were struck by lightning on Saturday night at Ijare community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The herders were said to have led their herds to Oke Owa Mountain which is strictly meant to be accessed by the King owing to its sacred nature. The cows were found dead, littering around, the next morning.
Speaking on the issue, the Sapetu of Ijare Kingdom, High Chief Wemimo Olaniran, revealed that it was not the first time such an incident was taking place.
“There have been occasions like that, but not as massive as we are having it now. Some individuals who desecrated the land in the past did witness a thunderbolt attack…”
The Chief claimed that five days before the incident, they heard that Fulani herdsmen were making plans to camp at the mountain. The community thought they were there to take their land from them and prayed to God for intervention as they did not want their sacred place defiled.
“…and we pray to God to save us, to intervene because we don’t want anything to desecrate the place ….”
He also said that the incident was an indication that “…the gods that are there don’t want whosoever to move to that place and settle down there. It is not meant for any ordinary person even kabiesi himself goes there once a while (sic) and there is a way he will compose himself when he is there.”
Describing the incident as sad, the State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria was reported to have consoled the owners of the Cows. “It was an act of God; the owners must take heart”.
Lightning is an electric discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground or within the cloud themselves. Extremely hot, it is a flash that can heat the air five times hotter than the sun’s surface. The heat causes the surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate. This translates to the thunder heard just after a lightning flash.
About 2000 people die worldwide due to its effect. Hundreds survive but suffer more lasting symptoms like memory loss, dizziness, weakness, and numbness. It is also capable of causing cardiac arrest and severe burns which one out of ten survive.
A flash of average lightning contains about five million volts of electricity. It is more severe in animals because they have wider steps which make voltage higher. If the current flows through the front and back legs, it will always flow through the animal’s heart. This makes the risk of death higher. Animals that move on fours like cattle and giraffe are at higher risks because both feet are too apart. This is why a major safety tip for lightning is to keep both feet together.
In 2011, Universiti Putra Malaysia electrical engineer Chandima Gomes, one of the foremost experts on lightning safety, wrote that,
“animals with a large separation between their front and back feet… are vulnerable to receive lightning injuries due to the dangerous potential differences that may built up between these feet, in the event of nearby lightning.”
People are advised to stay away from trees, poles, other high objects and also stay as low as much as possible. It is recommended to stay indoors during lightning strikes. When indoor, people are advised to stay away from doors and windows. Phones should be put away and electric appliances unplugged.
Lightning strikes are high in July and August. NASA says that thunderstorms are likely to occur at the warmest, most humid part of the day usually afternoon or evening.
Lightning is also known to be more likely to happen on mountains. With the high comes the risk. This fact is so much so, even tall buildings with openings are to be avoided in times of lightning. Groups are also more likely to be stroke by lightning especially when members of such groups are close to each other as are the cows.
Researchers have also found that water runoffs may also support the current in a bolt of lightning.
In 2016, 323 Reindeers were struck by lightning on a Mountain in Norway.
“Lightning does not strike a point, it strikes an area,” John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Weather Service told New York Times. “The physical flash you see strikes a point, but that lightning is radiating out as ground current and it’s very deadly.” He added.
68 Cattle have been killed by a flash of single lightning in Australia. This is recorded in the Guinness Book of Record as the largest number.
Earlier this year in August, 20 Cows were killed in the same fashion at Geras Mountains in the north-central Spanish province of Leon.
This is so informative. Keep it up girl. The sky is ur starting point.