Lightning strike kills six children on farm in Adamawa

At least six children have died after a lightning strike hit a groundnut farm during a heavy rainstorm in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The incident was reported by counter-insurgency and security analyst Zagazola Makama, who cited security sources covering the Lake Chad region.

According to the report, the tragedy occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in Dadiri Village, where several children were working on a groundnut farm belonging to one Musa Maude when lightning struck after hours of rainfall.

The Chairman of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ganye, Mallam Salau Iliya, was said to have alerted the Ganye Police Station shortly after the incident.

Police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) reportedly rushed to the scene, where nine children were found unconscious.

“Upon arrival, the DPO led a team to the scene, where nine victims were found unconscious. Three later regained consciousness, while six others were rushed to the Cottage Hospital in Ganye, where they were confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” the report stated.

The deceased children were identified as Aliyu Suleiman, 10; Jafar Suleiman, 8; Abdurrahman Musa, 7; Bilkisu Jibrilla, 10; Musa Ahmadu, 9; and Auwalu Nuhu, 11.

Three other children survived the incident after regaining consciousness.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Cottage Hospital mortuary in Ganye for autopsy.

The incident has thrown residents of Dadiri Village into mourning, as families grieve the sudden loss of the children in the lightning strike.

Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Criminal Investigation Department has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.