Rescue efforts are still ongoing after tragedy struck at Ridawa village in Ghari Local Government Area of Kano State with an unspecified number of brick workers feared dead following the collapse of a sand pit used for brick-making on Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Reports indicated that the unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of the day while labourers were digging a deep excavation site for brick production in the village and the pit suddenly carved in, trapping many of them underground.
According to eyewitness accounts, while many of the workers sustained varying degrees of injuries, there are palpable fears that several of the trapped workers may have died in the process.
One of the eyewitnesses said the incident sparked panic within the community as fellow workers and residents rushed to the scene to commence immediate rescue operations by any means necessary to save the many people trapped under the rubble. Rescue efforts were still ongoing as some of the victims were yet to be rescued, raising concerns over their chances of survival.
Reacting to the unfortunate development, member representing Ghari/Tsanyawa Federal Constituency, Sani Bala, said preliminary reports indicated that about 10 persons might have been trapped underground and called for urgent intervention from relevant authorities.
While appealing for the deployment of specialised rescue equipment to support ongoing rescue operations, Bala said: “We need urgent assistance to save those still trapped. The community is doing its best, but professional rescue support is required to prevent further loss of lives.”
The lawmaker also urged the government to support communities with modern brick-making equipment, highlighting that the current, primitive, and dangerous manual digging methods are risky and must be replaced to avoid endangering local communities.
At the scene, the villagers and emergency responders were seen digging frantically through the rubble in a bid to reach those buried beneath even as there were fears that the death toll could rise further.
However, some of the residents lamented that such sad happenings were commonplace in rural brick-making sites, where workers often operate in deep pits without adequate safety measures or supervision.
Contacted on the development, the Public Relations Officer of Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said they were yet to receive any formal report on the incident.
According to him: “We have not received any report on the incident. The Ghari office has not received a report on the incident, but as soon as we get details on the incident, we shall let the public know.”
