Thunderstorm kills six children, injures four in Adamawa

A lightning strike has claimed the lives of six children and left four others injured in Dadiri-Tirgali village, Garum District of Ganye Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

The tragic incident occurred on Sunday during a heavy downpour, as the victims were reportedly harvesting groundnuts on a farm.

An eyewitness said the lightning struck suddenly, killing six of the children on the spot, while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured victims were taken to the General Hospital in Ganye, where they are currently receiving treatment.

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 injured include Nasiru Abubakar, 7; Rilwanu Ahmadu, 9; Saadatu Isa, 35; and Hasiya Isa, aged one year and three months.

The incident has plunged the community into mourning, with residents expressing shock over the sudden loss.

Chairman of Ganye Local Government Area, Daniel Kamsobbi, confirmed the incident and described it as a deeply tragic moment for the community and the state at large.

He added that two of the injured victims—a mother and her child—have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims continue to receive care.

Kamsobbi said authorities have directed security and relevant agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident to guide future awareness and safety measures.

“As a council, we have engaged security and law enforcement agencies to investigate the cause of the tragedy so we can determine the appropriate steps for sensitising our people,” he said.

He noted that the outcome of the investigation would help inform strategies to educate residents, particularly farmers, on safety precautions during adverse weather conditions.

Ganye Local Government Area is known for its agricultural productivity and is often referred to as the “food basket” of Adamawa State due to its fertile land and year-round farming activities.