A police inspector attached to the Borno State Police Command, Abdulkadir Garba, popularly known as “Buratai,” has died after he was struck by lightning during a rainstorm while on duty in Maiduguri.
The incident was confirmed in a statement shared on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso Anipr, through his X account.
According to the statement, the tragic incident occurred around 2:19 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2026, opposite the Borno State Police Command Headquarters in Maiduguri.
Garba was reportedly carrying out his routine assignment of coordinating vehicle parking alongside a senior colleague, ASP Wazani Adamu, when heavy winds began ahead of the rainfall.
The officers were said to have attempted to take cover before a loud thunderclap was heard, followed immediately by a lightning strike that hit both men.
While ASP Wazani Adamu survived the incident, Inspector Garba reportedly suffered partial burns and later died.
The command described the late officer as a dedicated and hardworking policeman who was widely respected by both colleagues and members of the public for his commitment to duty.
“In a cruel twist of nature, a man who stood daily under the scorching sun and uncertain weather to maintain order and serve humanity lost his life, not to violence or conflict, but to the force of the storm,” the statement read.
The statement added that Garba remained committed to serving the public throughout his years in the force.
“Sometimes, life reminds us how fragile and unpredictable it can be. One moment, duty calls. The next moment, eternity answers,” the command stated.
The police command also prayed for the peaceful repose of the officer’s soul.
