RismadarVoice Reporters
May 9, 2026
A dedicated inspector of police, Abdulkadir Garba has died after he was struck by lightning while on duty in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
The deceased officer, Garba, popularly known as “Buratai,” was reportedly coordinating vehicle parking opposite the Borno State Police Command headquarters alongside a senior colleague, ASP Wazani Adamu, when the tragic incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, the officers were attempting to seek shelter as heavy winds gathered ahead of rainfall when a thunderclap was followed by a lightning strike that hit both men.
While Adamu survived the incident, Garba sustained severe injuries, including partial burns, and was later confirmed dead.
In a tribute issued on Friday, Daso described the late inspector as a committed and hardworking officer who was respected for his dedication to duty and public service.
“He lost his life, not to violence or conflict, but to the force of the storm,” the police spokesperson said while mourning the officer’s death.
The incident has sparked grief among colleagues and residents familiar with the officer, whose sudden death adds to growing concerns over occupational hazards faced by security personnel while on active duty.
