The Kano State Fire Service on Friday rescued three persons, including an 18-month-old child, from two separate well accidents recorded in Kumbotso and Warawa Local Government Areas of the state.
The incidents, which occurred between 7:06 a.m. and 9:40 a.m., involved an unidentified middle-aged man in Kumbotso and a woman alongside her child in Warawa.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi.
According to the statement, the service’s Emergency Response Unit received a distress call from the Semegu area near El-Sadeeq Bread in Kumbotso Local Government Area, where a man reportedly fell into a well.
“Upon receiving the report, our men from the State Headquarters were immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival, they discovered an unidentified man, about 40 years old, who had fallen inside a well,” the statement said.
The victim was rescued unconscious and handed over to the Divisional Crime Officer of the Panshekara Police Division, Salisu Salihu, for further investigation.
In a separate incident, the Fire Service said it received another distress call from Madarin Taba Village in Warawa Local Government Area.
According to the statement, a 32-year-old woman identified as Maimuna Shitu, who was said to be suffering from mental illness, and her 18-month-old son, Harisu Muntari, both fell into a well.
“Our men were also dispatched to the scene. On arrival, they found the woman and her son inside the well. Both victims were rescued unconscious and handed over to the Ward Head, Yusuf Surajo, and the woman’s father, Muhammad Shitu,” it added.
The service said the causes of both incidents were still under investigation.
Reacting to the incidents, the Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged residents to take safety precautions and ensure that wells are properly covered to prevent avoidable tragedies.
He also called on parents and guardians to closely monitor vulnerable persons, especially children and individuals with health challenges, to avoid similar incidents.
Well, accidents are not uncommon in parts of northern Nigeria, where uncovered or poorly secured wells in residential communities have repeatedly resulted in injuries and fatalities involving children and adults.