Two men, identified as Usman Muhammed and Ibrahim Inuwa, tragically lost their lives on Saturday in Bazabe village, Albasu Local Government Area of Kano State, after an attempt to recover a mobile phone from a pit latrine went horribly wrong.
The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday by its Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi.
He explained that both victims, aged 40, died from suffocation inside the latrine.
“We received an emergency call at Takai fire station from one inspector, Auwalu at about 11:16 am, that two men were trapped in a pit latrine. We immediately sent out a team to the scene to rescue the victims,” Abdullahi stated.
According to the fire service, Muhammed had initially entered the pit in an attempt to retrieve his handset that had accidentally fallen in. However, he became trapped inside.
“Muhammed was trying to retrieve his handset that fell into the pit toilet, when he got trapped,” Abdullahi said.
In a desperate effort to save him, Inuwa tied a rope around himself and climbed into the pit. Unfortunately, he also became stuck and was unable to make it out.
“Thereafter, the second victim, Inuwa, tied a rope around him, entered the pit latrine with the intention to help him out but also got trapped,” Abdullahi added.
The rescue team recovered both men unconscious and rushed them to the hospital, where they were later confirmed dead by medical personnel.
The matter has since been reported to the Divisional Police Office in Albasu for further investigation.
