A 32-year-old woman and her 18-month-old son were among three persons rescued from wells in separate incidents across Kano State on Friday, according to the Kano State Fire Service.
The agency disclosed that the rescue operations followed distress calls received from residents in Warawa and Kumbotso Local Government Areas between 7:06 a.m. and 9:40 a.m.
In one of the incidents, firefighters responded to an emergency call from Madarin Taba Village in Warawa LGA, where a woman identified as Maimuna Shitu and her son, Harisu Muntari, were found inside a well.
The Fire Service said rescue personnel swiftly arrived at the scene and successfully brought both victims out of the well.
According to the agency, the woman’s father informed emergency responders that she had been battling mental health challenges prior to the incident.
“Both victims were rescued unconscious and subsequently handed over to the village head, Yusuf Surajo, and the woman’s father, Muhammad Shitu,” the agency stated.
In a separate operation, firefighters rescued an unidentified man believed to be about 40 years old after he reportedly fell into a well in the Semegu area near El-Sadeeq Bread in Kumbotso Local Government Area.
The victim was also recovered unconscious and later transferred to the Divisional Crime Officer of the Panshekara Police Division, Salisu Salihu, for further investigation.
The Fire Service said investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding both incidents.
Reacting to the development, the Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged residents to prioritise safety measures around wells and other uncovered water sources.
He advised parents, guardians and property owners to ensure that wells are properly secured to prevent avoidable accidents and protect lives.
The incidents have once again highlighted the dangers posed by uncovered wells in residential communities, particularly to vulnerable groups such as children and individuals requiring special care.