A year-old baby has been reported dead after a swarm of bees invaded the Wasa Ateiku Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church whilst a conference was ongoing at about 11:00 am on Sunday, February 20, 2022.
According to the leader of the church, Pastor Francis Ofori, some children from the Ateiku community numbering about five, tampered with the bees, pelting stones at their hives leading to the attack on the church and surrounding homes.
He noted that the bees first invaded the auditorium of the children before heading towards the adult side and the houses within the vicinity.
“We saw the kids running from the Children’s Ministry Department towards the main auditorium. We observed that bees were chasing after them, so they run towards me and I took them in, but the flies were increasing in number so we all dashed out of the room in no particular direction. That was when we realised that one of the kids was on the ground, overpowered by the bees,” the Pastor narrated.
According to the mother of the deceased child, Madam Francisca, she was at home when her six-year-old child together with her four-year-old nephew came running, being chased by the bees.
According to her, in an attempt to take shelter in her room, a man who had earlier come to her for a box of match sticks had already outrun her into the room and locked them out to protect himself.
“We couldn’t immediately enter so we run out to seek shelter with other neighbours but they would also not let us in for fear. But while we sought a safe place to hide, I realised my child was not with me so I went back and saw him being stung by the bees and had to take off my dress and cover him with it,” she said.
“For my one-year-old baby, when I went to see her, she was stung beyond recognition and was unconscious. She was placed on oxygen but all efforts by the nurses and doctors to resuscitate her proved futile,” she added.
The baby who was sent to the Wasa Ateiku clinic for treatment after the attack was pronounced dead a few minutes after her admission.
Meanwhile, the Pastor has cautioned parents to ensure that they monitor the activities of their wards and their whereabouts for their safety.
