Five persons die while excavating sand in Kano

At least five young men have been confirmed died while excavating sand on Sunday at Bichi local government area, about 40 kilometers away from Kano metropolis.

The incident occurred at Yanlami village when the young men were trapped in the mud, some feet below the sea level to excavate sand.

Tragedy however ensued when the victims were submerged in the deep trench, the Kano state fire service confirmed.

The victims include Alasan Abdulhamid, 22 years old; Muhammad Sulaiman, 35 years old; Masaudu Nasiru, 25 years old; Jibrin Musa, 30 and Jafaru Abdulwahabu, about 30 years of age.

Spokesman of the fire service, SSF Saminu Yusuf Abdullahi, in a statement said the five victims were exhumed unconscious and later confirmed dead.

“Our fire station at Bichi Local Government Area received emergency call at about 10.32am from one Malam Sunusi Badume who reported a puddle incident at Yanlami Village Bichi Local Government Area,” Abdullahi said.

“Few minutes later our men from Bichi fire station move down for rescue mission at about 11: 05 am. It was discovered that five men were trapped while working in a puddle trench to gets sand.

“From investigation, the victims embarked on the hard labour to excavate sound with the intention of helping their friend to build house ahead of his marriage ceremony when the good effort turned tragedy as some parts of the sand collapse and covered them to dead.”

The deceased has been handed over to the police division at Bichi with the knowledge of the Village head of Yanlami village.