The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed the death of two teenagers who drowned after falling into an open pond while allegedly fleeing from suspected phone snatchers in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, said in a statement that the incident occurred on Friday, 6 March 2026, at about 4:04 p.m., after the Emergency Response Unit received a distress call from one Muhd Abba reporting an emergency at Ring Road, Kureken Sani area.
According to the statement, a rescue team from the Fire Service headquarters was immediately deployed to the scene.
“On arrival, the team discovered that two 18-year-old youths, Sadiq Isyaku and Auwal Isyaku, had fallen into an open body of water,” the statement said.
The victims were rescued unconscious but were later confirmed dead. Their bodies were subsequently handed over to their father, Ibrahim Shehu, of Unguwa Uku Quarters.
Preliminary findings indicated that the youths fell into the pond while attempting to escape from suspected phone snatchers who were reportedly chasing them.
In a separate incident on Monday, March 9, 2026, at about 7:12 p.m., the Fire Service also rescued a man who fell into a well at Durumin Zungura by Assahabul Khahafi area in Kano Municipal.
The Control Room received an emergency call from Abdullahi Aminu, prompting the immediate deployment of a rescue team from the headquarters.
On arrival, the team found a man identified as Shitu Balarabe, about 40 years old, trapped inside the well.
The rescue team successfully retrieved him alive and handed him over to his brother, Jamilu Balarabe, a resident of Durumin Zungura in Kano city.
The Kano State Fire Service expressed condolences to the families affected by the incidents and urged members of the public to take precautionary measures to prevent similar tragedies.
It advised parents and guardians to ensure that children and youths stay away from open water bodies and called on residents to construct protective walls and install metal covers on wells to prevent people and animals from falling in.
