At least five people, including two children, have died in separate well and fire incidents recorded in three local government areas of Kano State.
Three of the victims lost their lives in Badume Kanawa village, Bichi Local Government Area, while attempting to re-dig a well.
Confirming the incident on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said the tragedy occurred when a rope snapped while one of the men was inside the well.
According to him, the first victim, identified as Sa’idu Gada, aged about 65, was working inside the well when the rope gave way, trapping him.
“When our men arrived at the scene, they discovered that three people were involved in re-digging a well. A rope accidentally snapped while the father was inside the well,” Abdullahi said.
He explained that efforts to rescue Gada led to more casualties.
“His son, Sani Isyaku, aged about 20, entered the well to rescue him but could not come out. Another man, Yakubu Abdullahi, about 60 years old, also entered the well in an attempt to save them, but he too became trapped,” he added.
Abdullahi noted that firefighters managed to pull the three men out unconscious, but they were later confirmed dead and handed over to the police at the Badume Division in Bichi.
In a second incident, a 10-year-old boy, Hassan Iliyasu Haruna, reportedly died after falling into a well in Danbatta Local Government Area.
The third tragedy occurred in Nassarawa Local Government Area, at Badawa Layin Day, where a fire outbreak claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl.
Abdullahi said firefighters were alerted to the blaze at about 11:57 a.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
“On arrival, our men found a ground-floor residential building engulfed in flames. Two bedrooms were severely affected,” he said.
He added, “A 10-year-old girl was trapped in the building and rescued unconscious, but was later confirmed dead.”
Reacting to the incidents, the Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Sani Anas, cautioned residents against entering wells during rescue attempts.
“We advise members of the public to avoid going into wells when someone is trapped. Such actions often result in the loss of more lives,” Anas warned.
