Tragedy as Man Drowns after Entering Well to Retrieve Burning Gas Cylinder
- A 30-year-old man in Kano drowned after entering a well to retrieve a gas cylinder that had been thrown in while on fire
- Shocked community members, who witnessed the tragedy, have called for open wells to be covered
- The Kano fire service, which retrieved the victim, issued a stern warning against entering confined spaces without safety measures
A 30-year-old man, Ashahabu Ubale, died after drowning in a well while attempting to retrieve a burning gas cylinder in Gwarzo, Kano State.
The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the tragic incident occurred at Saulawa Quarters in Gwarzo Town.
Source: Getty Images
According to the report received by the Gwarzo Fire Service branch, a local resident, Alhaji Dan Dauda Gwarzo, placed an emergency call stating a man had entered the well under dangerous circumstances.
Eyewitnesses reported that a gas cylinder had caught fire and was thrown into the well in a panic. Ashahabu Ubale then descended into the well to retrieve it.
Some residents of Saulawa Quarters expressed devastation over the incident.
“I was at the shop when I heard the chaos that there was a cylinder burning and someone threw it into the well to stop the fire.”
“I ran over there but we never imagined the gas would take all the air from the well. It happened too fast that we lost a member of our community in this way,” Mallam Hussaini Ibrahim, a community member, said.
Another community member, Sani Ado, lamented that it was a painful loss.
“He was a very young man trying to prevent a disaster but unknown to us all, he is going to met his own end.”
“We pray for his soul to rest in peace, and we will plead with communities to cover these open wells. They are death traps,” he added.
Source: Original
Fire service issues safety warning
In reaction, Kano state fire service command said its operatives, who swiftly mobilized to the scene, retrieved Ubale unconscious. He was later confirmed dead.
The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased.
The Service, however, issued a strong warning to the public.
“We urge residents to observe all safety precautions around open wells and confined spaces. Never enter a well without proper safety measures, especially when hazardous materials are involved.”
The fire service command explained that the displacement of oxygen by gases can lead to immediate and fatal suffocation.
Meanwhile, the body of the victim was handed over to Police Constable Muhammad Zakiyyu of the Gwarzo Police Division.
Kano APC leaders announce their preferred candidate
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that former governor of Kano and ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, had secured the backing of Kano APC stakeholders for President Bola Tinubu to fly the party’s presidential flag in 2027.
The decision followed a series of strategy sessions held with party leaders drawn from all 44 local government areas of the state.
Source: Legit.ng
Ibrahim Sofiyullaha (Editorial Assistant) Ibrahim Sofiyullaha is a graduate of First Technical University, Ibadan. He was the founder and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of a fast-rising campus journalism outfit at his university. Ibrahim is a coauthor of the book Julie, or Sylvia, written in collaboration with two prominent Western authors. He was ranked as the 9th best young writer in Africa by the International Sports Press Association. Ibrahim has contributed insightful articles for major platforms, including Sportskeeda in the UK and Motherly in the United States. Email: ibrahim.sofiyullaha@corp.legit.ng
Usman Bello Balarabe (Kano Correspondent) Kano's regional correspondent, Usman Bello Balarabe is a journalist, media strategist, and university lecturer in the state. He worked as an investigative journalist with Daily Trust Newspaper Nigeria. His career is passionately geared towards stimulating social justice, exposing corruption, ensuring good governance and accountability. In his over 7 years of journalism practice, he has authored investigations and numerous special and beat reports at the intersection of environment, health, education, agriculture, public spending, security, and politics.
