Tragedy struck the Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri on Sunday night when a fence collapsed on six children, killing five and leaving one injured.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said the lone survivor is currently receiving medical treatment, while investigations have begun to determine the cause of the collapse.
According to Daso, the incident was reported through the Divisional Police Officer of the Bulumkutu Division.
“Yesterday, we received a report of a fence that collapsed on six children. Unfortunately, five of them, all below the age of 16, lost their lives, while one sustained injuries and is currently in the hospital,”
The police spokesperson disclosed that a detailed investigation has commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the possibility of structural defects or negligence.
“The command has immediately commenced investigations into how the fence collapsed and all issues surrounding the incident to determine whether there was any form of negligence,”
He urged residents to comply with proper building standards and closely monitor children, especially during periods of adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, the incident has renewed concerns over structural safety in Maiduguri, particularly during the rainy season. Recently, heavy rainfall led to the collapse of eight buildings across parts of the state capital, displacing several residents.
Communities affected by the downpour included Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari, Ngomari, and other riverbank areas. The rainfall, which lasted about three hours, caused widespread damage but no casualties were recorded.
Daso said police officers were deployed to affected areas to conduct on-the-spot assessments and maintain security.
“In response to the heavy rainfall that affected parts of Maiduguri, including Gomari, Bulumkutu, Jidari and ITE, the command carried out assessments and deployed patrol teams across the affected locations. Although eight buildings collapsed, no lives were lost,” he stated.
Authorities say investigations into the latest tragedy are ongoing, as residents continue to call for stricter enforcement of building regulations to prevent future loss of lives.