By Wellington Jopelo
Two 18-year-old youths, identified as Sadiq Isyaku and Auwal Isyaku, have drowned after falling into an open water body while attempting to escape from suspected phone snatchers in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.
The incident occurred on Friday at about 4:04 pm along Ring Road in the Kureken Sani area, according to the Kano State Fire Service.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Saminu Abdullahi, said the emergency call was received at the service’s control room from a resident identified as Muhd Abba, who alerted authorities about the incident.
Abdullahi explained that a rescue team from the fire service headquarters was immediately deployed to the scene after the distress call.
On arrival, firefighters discovered that the two teenagers had fallen into an open water body while trying to escape from suspected attackers who were reportedly chasing them.
The victims were pulled out of the water unconscious by the rescue team but were later confirmed dead.
Their bodies were subsequently handed over to their father, Ibrahim Shehu, who resides in the Unguwa Uku area.
Preliminary information indicated that the tragedy occurred when the two youths accidentally fell into the pond while trying to flee from the suspected phone snatchers.
In a separate incident, the Kano State Fire Service also rescued a 40-year-old man who fell into a well in Kano Municipal Local Government Area.
The incident reportedly happened on Monday at about 7:12 pm in the Durumin Zungura area of Kano city.
According to Abdullahi, the control room received an emergency call from Abdullahi Aminu reporting that a man had fallen into a well.
A rescue team was immediately dispatched to the scene, where they found the victim, identified as Shitu Balarabe, trapped inside the well.
Firefighters successfully retrieved the man alive and handed him over to his brother, Jamilu Balarabe.
The fire service extended its condolences to the families of the deceased youths and urged residents to take precautionary measures to prevent similar incidents.
The agency also advised members of the public to keep children and youths away from open water bodies and ensure that wells are properly covered or secured to prevent accidents.