Andrew
SCORES of learners at Kumalo Primary School in Bulawayo reportedly scurried for cover, after allegedly being slapped by an invisible hand in a toilet.
Some learners claimed they had seen a strange snake.
The incident, which has become a talking point on the parents’ WhatsApp group, occurred recently.
A source at the school said most of the affected pupils were in Grade Three up to Grade Five.
The source said a group of learners heard a mysterious voice shouting at them while they were near the toilet, prompting them to run in different directions in hysteria.
The source said thereafter some of the pupils complained of throbbing headaches while others suffered from hallucinations.
Some of the parents who claimed their children were affected by the strange happenings were interviewed but refused to be named so as to protect their children from victimisation at the school.
“My child is in Grade Five. She told me, while she was in the toilet with her friend, they heard a voice, forcing them to run outside and report to their class teacher. Today, she refused to go to school, saying she fears to be attacked by the mysterious beings,” said the parent.
Five parents claimed their children were slapped by an invisible hand, causing them to suffer from hallucinations.
Another parent said, after seeing the snake, their child suffered a throbbing headache.
“My child came from school yesterday and told me she was slapped by an invisible hand and today, she refused to go to school, as she was suffering from a headache. I had to get some medication from a pharmacy,” said the worried parent.
There is yet another parent who claimed their child saw a snake in the toilet.
“My child told me that he saw a snake while he was in the loo, and when he looked at it for the second time, it disappeared,” said the parent.
Efforts to get a comment from the headmistress, Stella Mhlanga, did not bear fruit.
The School Development Committee chairperson, Banele Jumo, said: “I just saw messages on a parents’ WhatsApp group claiming their children saw mysterious beings at the school. I will have a concrete comment after I have gone to the school.” — B-Metro
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Father breaks infant’s arm
The Imo State Government and the Nigeria Police Force have been urged to arrest and charge a man for allegedly abusing his two-month-old baby.
Little Miracle’s arm was allegedly broken by 31-year-old Confidence Amatobi for crying and disturbing his sleep.
Amatobi hit the infant with a plastic hanger to stop him from crying.
At the paediatrics unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the incident led to the amputation of the arm.
The National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the aggrieved mother of Miracle called for justice.
The Imo State chairperson of NAWOJ, Dr Dorothy Nnaji, who spoke to journalists after visiting the boy at FMC, confirmed that the injury inflicted by the father had led to the amputation of the child’s right hand.
“The perpetrator, Confidence Amatobi, used a plastic hanger on the baby simply because he was crying that his 20-year-old mother had left to ease herself. When he (Amatobi) saw that the hand was broken and swollen, he used wood and elastic bands to tie it.
“He locked the mother and baby to prevent her from talking to neighbours or seeking help. He also took her phone from her. After two days, she found her way out and sought help from her neighbours.
“The guy was arrested by a vigilante but he escaped. By the time help came, the baby’s hand had decayed. The only option was to cut off baby Miracle’s right hand from the shoulder,” said Dr Nnaji. — Wires
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Man demolishes houses
after wife ditched him
A Malawian man identified as Francis Banda demolished two houses he had built for his wife and her mother after she dumped him for another man.
Banda said he had been married to the woman for 13 years. The two have three children.
He said he had built two houses, one for his wife and another for her mother, in the wife’s home village.
According to Banda, his wife started a relationship with another man and she recently left their house. At some point, Banda tried to communicate with the woman but his call was picked up by the boyfriend.
This angered him and he decided to demolish the houses. — Wires
Online Reporter