2 men die trying to retrieve phone from pit latrine in Kano

A heartbreaking tragedy struck Bazabe village in Albasu Local Government Area of Kano State on Saturday, as two men lost their lives while attempting to retrieve a mobile phone from a pit latrine.

The victims, Usman Muhammed and Ibrahim Inuwa, both aged 40, reportedly suffocated inside the latrine during the desperate rescue effort.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement released on Sunday. According to the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, the fire service received an emergency call at approximately 11:16 a.m. from Inspector Auwalu, reporting that two individuals were trapped in a 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,” he said.

“We immediately sent out a team to the scene to rescue the victims.”

Abdullahi explained that the tragedy began when Muhammed accidentally dropped his phone into the toilet and descended in an attempt to retrieve it.

“Muhammed was trying to retrieve his handset that fell into the pit toilet, when he got trapped,” he said.

In an effort to save him, Inuwa secured a rope around his waist and climbed into the latrine. Unfortunately, he too was overcome by the fumes and became trapped.

“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.

Both men were pulled out by rescuers but were unresponsive. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where medical personnel confirmed them dead on arrival.

The fire service noted that the matter has been formally reported to the Divisional Police Office in Albasu for further action.