A police inspector identified as Abdulkadir Garba, popularly known as “Buratai,” has died after he was struck by lightning while on duty in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday, describing it as a heartbreaking tragedy that occurred during a rainstorm on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, the late officer was carrying out traffic and parking control duties opposite the state police headquarters alongside a senior colleague, ASP Wazani Adamu, when the incident happened.
Daso said both officers noticed the weather changing and tried to find shelter as heavy winds began to gather ahead of the rain. However, before they could get to safety, a thunderstrike hit them.
“It was a sudden and devastating moment,” the police spokesman said, adding that a loud thunderclap was immediately followed by a lightning strike that struck both officers while they were still on duty.
While ASP Adamu survived the incident, Inspector Garba was not as fortunate. Police said he suffered partial burns from the strike and died as a result of the impact.
The command described the late officer as a dedicated and hardworking policeman who was well known around the area for his commitment to duty.
“He stood daily under the scorching sun and uncertain weather to maintain order and serve humanity,” Daso said in the tribute.
He added that Garba’s death had left many of his colleagues and members of the public in shock, noting that the officer did not lose his life to crime or violence, but to the harsh force of nature while serving.
The incident has since drawn sympathy from residents and fellow officers, many of whom described the late inspector as disciplined, humble and committed to his work.
