Tragedy unfolded in Ridawa village, located in Ghari Local Government Area of Kano State, after a brick-making pit suddenly collapsed, trapping an unspecified number of workers beneath tonnes of earth.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, struck while the victims were digging soil for brick production — a routine activity that quickly turned deadly.
Eyewitness accounts from the community revealed that the labourers were deep inside the excavation site when the walls of the pit gave way without warning, burying them alive and sparking panic across the village.
Fears are mounting that several of the trapped workers may have lost their lives, while others reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries in the collapse.
Local residents, alongside emergency responders, have since launched frantic rescue operations, digging through the debris in a desperate bid to reach survivors.
However, as of the time of filing this report, many victims remain trapped underground, raising grave concerns about their chances of survival.
The lawmaker representing Ghari/Tsanyawa Federal Constituency, Sani Bala, confirmed the incident, disclosing that about 10 persons are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. He called for urgent government intervention to accelerate rescue efforts and prevent further casualties.
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the official response, as the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, stated that the agency had yet to receive any formal report of the disaster.
“We have not received any report on the incident. The Ghari office has not been notified. As soon as we get details, we will respond accordingly,” he said.
As anxious families and villagers keep vigil at the scene, hope is fading with each passing hour, turning the quiet rural settlement into a grim theatre of grief and desperation.
