4 workers, 14-year-old student killed in Kano building collapse

Five people have died and 10 others rescued following two separate building collapses in Kumbotso and Fagge local government areas of Kano state.

The incidents occurred Saturday at Gaida in Kumbotso and Kurna in Fagge, with the Kano State Fire Service receiving distress calls about 2:34 pm and 2:40 pm, respectively.

A statement issued Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Abdullahi,  said the first incident occurred at Gaida, near Salbas Filling Station, where a building under construction, measuring about 50 by 50 feet, collapsed on six workers.

“Firefighters from the state fire service headquarters were immediately deployed to the scene and rescued two workers alive, identified as 17-year-old Muhammad Hassan and 19-year-old Khalid Abubakar.

“Four other workers were rescued unconscious but were later confirmed dead. They were identified as Sunusi Surajo, 18; Bashir Ibrahim, 20; Ibrahim Ibrahim, 25; and Abubakar, 30,” the statement said.

All six victims were evacuated to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and later handed over to Inspector Adamu Garba of the Kofar Wanbai Police Division.

The second collapse occurred at an Islamiyya school, known as Khadija Idris Bala, behind the primary school in Kurna, Fagge local government area.

 “Firefighters from the Kurna Fire Station rescued eight of the nine students affected by the collapse,” the statement said, adding that the victims were aged between 12 and 15.

“The ninth victim, 14-year-old Khadija Muhammad, was rescued unconscious but was later confirmed dead.

“The victims were subsequently handed over to the school headmaster, Muhammad Gambo Usman,” the statement added.

The causes of both collapses are currently under investigation.

Reacting to the incidents, the Fire Service urged building owners, contractors and construction workers to observe safety precautions and comply with approved building standards, particularly during the rainy season.

“We urge members of the public to take building safety seriously and ensure that appropriate standards are followed to prevent avoidable loss of lives,” the service said.

The agency also advised residents to promptly report building-related emergencies to enable firefighters to respond quickly and minimise casualties.

…A very recent incident in the area

Blueprint.ng recalls that the Kano State Fire Service had rescued 16 people after a residential building collapsed in the Dan Dishe area of Kwanar Yashi, Fagge local government area.

Several others were feared trapped under the rubble, according to reports from the scene.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 8, 2026 when the structure, measuring about 20 by 30 feet, suddenly collapsed.

Spokesperson of the Fire Service, confirmed the development in a statement, saying the agency received a distress call at about 4:32 a.m.

“The Kano State Fire Service wishes to inform the general public that at about 4:32 a.m. today, Saturday, 8 August 2026, the Service’s Emergency Response Unit received an emergency call from one of our staff, Aminu Sani Warure, reporting the collapse of a building at Dan Dishe, Kwanar Yashi, Fagge Local Government Area,” Abdullahi said.

“Upon receiving the report, men of the Service from the Headquarters were immediately mobilized to the scene. On arrival, they discovered that a residential building of about 20 by 30 feet had collapsed.”

He said rescue teams pulled 16 people from the debris, including three children who were found unconscious.

The children were identified as Affan Yusuf, five; Hassana Yusuf, seven; and Ummulkursum Yusuf, nine months.

Abdullahi said efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue other victims who may still be trapped.

“The rescue team recovered 16 people from the rubble. Operations are still ongoing as more people are feared trapped,” he added.

The cause of the collapse remains unknown, while investigations have commenced.

“The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained. An investigation is ongoing,” Abdullahi stated.

He urged residents to take safety precautions, especially during the rainy season.

“The Kano State Fire Service urges members of the public to observe all necessary safety precautions, particularly during the rainy season, to prevent similar incidents,” he said.

The latest incident comes less than a month after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Nasarawa local government area of the state, killing one person and leaving three others injured.