Tragedy struck Tudun Kusa village in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday after three children died in a pit latrine while attempting to retrieve a mobile phone.
The victims, identified as Najjashi, Mohammed and Ashafa, aged between 12 and 15, reportedly entered the pit one after another in an attempt to recover an Android phone belonging to a resident, Murtala.
Speaking to NEWSUNPLUG, the councillor representing the area, Hashimu Muhammad, said the three children were from different families.
He explained that Murtala had promised to reward anyone who could retrieve his phone with N1,000, prompting Najjashi, the youngest of the children, aged about 12, to enter the pit.
According to Hashimu, the pit was formerly a well which had dried up before being converted into a latrine.
”Murtala promised to give N1,000 to any child who could retrieve his phone. This prompted Najjashi, the youngest, to enter the pit, but shortly afterwards, there was silence,” he said.
Hashimu said Mohammed, aged 13, who witnessed Najjashi entering the pit, subsequently went in after him when he failed to respond.
He added that Ashafa, aged about 15, also insisted on entering the pit to find out what had happened to his friends.
”After Mohammed entered, we also heard nothing from him. People began shouting, and residents started gathering. While this was happening, Ashafa, who was about 15 and the third child, became distressed and insisted that he must be allowed to enter to see what had happened to his friends. He was only allowed in after much difficulty, but he also failed to come out,” Hashimu said.
In a further attempt to establish what was happening inside the pit, residents reportedly lowered a chicken into it following a suggestion by an elderly man.
However, the bird also died before reaching the bottom. The bodies of the three children were eventually recovered using a hook and later buried in accordance with Islamic rites. The pit latrine has since been sealed off.
Residents who spoke to NEWSUNPLUG described the incident as an unprecedented tragedy in the community, saying the deaths had plunged the village into deep mourning.
”We have never witnessed a tragedy like this. We are deeply shocked. Three children, all at once,” one of the residents said.
A three-day mourning period has commenced in Tudun Kusa following the tragedy.