Several individuals suspected to be looters stealing rods and other building materials have been trapped under the rubble of the demolished Daula hotel in Kano state.
It was gathered that one person has been confirmed dead, three others were rescued alive, and others are yet to be found.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident happened around 2:30 p.m. when the looters were scouting for iron rods from the rubble of the demolished building.
The Public Relations Officer, Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif, who spoke to our reporter at the scene of the incident, said his team had so far rescued three people alive.
Yusuf said, “Our team rescued three alive; one had a fracture on his leg, but his relatives have gone with him. Two left on their own after they were rescued.
“I was told there are other people inside, but until he is brought out, you cannot tell how many people were trapped in there. But as you can see, our men were still on a rescue mission,” he said.
At the time of filling out this report, two or more people were said to still be trapped in the demolished building.
Also speaking, an eyewitness, Isah Ibrahim, said, “We were working upstairs, and mostly these scavengers were down, also taking one or two things.
“The problem is, when you are up there, they are trying to demolish the underside, which is very wrong.”
Meanwhile, men of the fire service, NEMA, police, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Agency, and KNUPDA, among others, were seen at the scene trying to rescue others trapped in the building.
Recall that the building was one of several other buildings demolished by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State under the ongoing demolition exercise to reclaim government properties illegally sold out.
Daily Trust