A two-story building collapsed in the Sabon Gari area of Kano State, killing three children and leaving a 15-year-old girl trapped under the rubble.
The incident, which occurred during heavy rainfall, has been attributed to a presumed landslide.
According to local sources, the collapse happened while a family of six was sleeping inside the building. The parents of the children, identified as Mr. and Mrs. Aliyu Mine, were rescued and are currently receiving medical treatment.
“Our hearts are heavy with sorrow as we report that three children have lost their lives in this tragic accident,” Nura Abdullahi, the Territorial Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told Channels Television on Thursday. He added that rescue efforts were still underway to free the trapped girl.
A relative of the family, Loveday Okoh, expressed mixed emotions about the situation. “It’s devastating. We are grateful for the rescue efforts, but the pain of losing these young lives is unbearable,” Okoh said.
Rescue operations have been carried out by NEMA, the Red Cross, and the Nigerian Police. Musa Abdullahi, Executive Secretary of the Red Cross, commended the collaboration among the teams involved. “Our teams have been on the ground since the incident, working in challenging conditions to save lives and provide assistance,” Abdullahi stated.
The Managing Director of the Kano State Urban Planning Development Authority, Ibrahim Abdullahi, stressed the importance of improved building regulations to prevent future tragedies.
“This incident underscores the critical need for stringent building safety regulations and better urban planning. We must learn from this tragedy to prevent future occurrences and ensure the safety of our communities,” he said.
