A tragic thunderstorm has claimed the lives of six children and left four others injured in Dadiri-Tirgali village, Garum District of Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The incident occurred on Sunday during a heavy downpour while the victims were reportedly harvesting groundnuts on a farm when lightning struck. (Daily Trust)
Residents said the children died instantly, while the four survivors sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Ganye for treatment.
An eyewitness said the incident threw the farming community into mourning as families and neighbours struggled to come to terms with the devastating loss. (Trust Radio)
The deceased were identified as Abdulrahman Musa, 7; Aliyu Sule Maunde, 10; Jaafar Sule Maunde, 10; Bilkisu Jibrin Maunde, 20; Musa Ahmadu, 9; and Auwalu Nuhu, 11.
Those receiving medical attention include Nasiru Abubakar, 7; Rilwanu Ahmadu, 9; Sa’adatu Isa, 35; and Hasiya Isa, aged one year and three months. (Trust Radio)
Chairman of Ganye Local Government Area, Daniel Kamsobbi, expressed condolences to the bereaved families, describing the incident as a painful tragedy for the people of Ganye and Adamawa State.
He confirmed that six people lost their lives while four others were injured, adding that a mother and her child had been treated and discharged, while two victims remained under medical care.
Kamsobbi said the local government had directed the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, the investigation is expected to determine whether the deaths resulted solely from a natural phenomenon or if other factors contributed, with the findings expected to guide future public awareness campaigns aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
“As a council, we have directed law enforcement agencies to investigate the real cause of the tragedy so that we can determine the most appropriate approach for sensitising our people,” he said. (Trust Radio)
Ganye Local Government Area is widely regarded as one of Adamawa State’s major agricultural hubs, where many residents depend on farming for their livelihoods. The tragedy has raised concerns about the dangers farmers face during the rainy season, particularly during thunderstorms.
Experts advise residents to suspend outdoor activities, especially farming, once thunderstorms begin, and to seek shelter in safe buildings rather than remain in open fields where they may be exposed to lightning strikes.
The incident adds to a series of weather-related fatalities recorded in parts of northern Nigeria in recent weeks, prompting renewed calls for greater public awareness on lightning and thunderstorm safety. (Punch Newspapers)
