Tragedy Strikes During Harvest in Adamawa Village
Six children from the same family were killed instantly when lightning struck a tree they were sheltering under during a heavy downpour in Dadiri-Tirgali village, Garum District, Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Four others sustained injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital, Ganye.
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). The injured are Nasiru Abubakar (7), Rilwanu Ahmadu (9), Saadatu Isa (35), and Hasiya Isa (aged one year and three months).
Survivors Recount Harrowing Moments
According to family members, the victims were harvesting groundnuts on their farm when the rain began. They took shelter under a tree, sharing the only umbrella they had. Moments later, lightning struck the tree, killing six instantly and injuring four others.
One of the grieving parents, Musa Maude, popularly known as “Soja,” who lost both a son and a grandson, said he sent the children to the farm that afternoon. “While they were harvesting, the rain started falling heavily,” he said. At about 4 p.m., a survivor called him, saying lightning had struck the group. “When we got there, we found eight of them lying under the tree. A woman was lying nearby. She was unconscious at first, but later regained consciousness, and her baby, who was strapped to her back, started crying.” Maude said other family members arrived with a tricycle and rushed all 10 victims to the General Hospital. “Sadly, the doctors confirmed that six of the children had died. We buried them on Monday morning at about 9 a.m. in accordance with Islamic rites.”
Fathers Describe Heartbreaking Loss
Another bereaved father, Suleiman Maude, who lost his two sons Aliyu and Jaafar, said he had gone out for bricklaying work but returned home because of the rain. “I came back home around 3 p.m. because it was drizzling. Not long after, my elder brother called and told me that a thunderstorm had hit the farm. I rushed there immediately, but what I saw was heartbreaking. My two sons were among those lying lifeless on the ground.”
Jibrilla Hamma, another bereaved father, said he had met the children earlier that day as they passed through his farm. “They joked with me and wanted to take my parked bicycle. I told them to continue to the farm. After I returned home and observed my prayers, I received a distress call. I rushed back and found six children lying motionless.”
Survivor Recalls the Lightning Strike
One of the survivors, Sa’adatu Isah, who was on the farm with her one-year, three-month-old daughter, said she accompanied the children to harvest groundnuts before the rain started unexpectedly. She asked the children to gather under a tree and share the only umbrella. “We were just talking and waiting for the rain to stop when suddenly there was a loud sound. It was followed by a bright flash of light, like someone shining a very powerful torch at us. After that, I remembered nothing. We all collapsed. I only regained consciousness later after family members came to rescue us.”
Sa’adatu said she still finds it difficult to believe that six children died within moments. “This incident has taught me how short life is. At the hospital, the doctor told us that the six children had died. It felt like a dream. I will never forget what happened for the rest of my life. I thank God for sparing my life and that of my daughter, and I pray that Allah grants the deceased children eternal rest.”
Local Government Chairman Expresses Condolences
In a telephone interview, the Chairman of Ganye Local Government Area, Daniel Kamsobbi, expressed condolences to the bereaved families, describing the incident as “a tragic moment for the people of Ganye and Adamawa State at large.” Kamsobbi confirmed that six children died instantly while four others sustained injuries. He said a mother and her child had been treated and discharged, while the remaining two victims were still receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Ganye.
Kamsobbi said the council had directed the police and other security agencies to investigate the cause of the tragedy to determine whether it was purely a natural occurrence or if there were other contributing factors. “As a council, we have asked the police and other law enforcement agencies to investigate the real cause of the tragedy, whether it was a natural phenomenon or caused by human activities, so that we can adopt the most effective approach in sensitising our people. If the investigation shows that certain cultural practices contributed to the incident, we will know how best to educate our people and also escalate the findings through the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) for wider public awareness across the state.”
Expert Advice on Lightning Safety
An environmentalist and a state official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, advised residents, particularly farmers, to avoid taking shelter under trees during thunderstorms. He urged people to stay indoors, keep away from open fields, water bodies, windows and doors, avoid touching metal objects or using electrical appliances, and seek shelter in sturdy buildings during heavy rain and lightning. The official explained that tall trees are among the highest objects in open areas such as farms and are therefore more likely to attract lightning, acting like natural lightning rods. He warned that even when lightning does not strike a person directly, the electrical current can travel through the tree, its roots and the ground, electrocuting anyone standing nearby. He also cautioned that strong winds accompanying heavy rainfall could cause tree branches to break and fall, leading to serious injuries or death. “People should take extra precautions during thunderstorms and avoid sheltering under trees. The safest option is to seek refuge in a strong building until the storm passes,” he added.
A resident, Ishaku Babidi, said sympathisers from Ganye and neighbouring communities had continued to visit the bereaved families to offer condolences and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. Residents described the incident as one of the worst lightning-related disasters to hit the community in recent times.
