From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
About seven Qur’anic School pupils popularly known as Almajiris who were pupils at Malam Dan-umma Qurnic School at Bayan Science, Badariya area, in Birnin Kebbi were killed by the collapsed mountain.
It was gathered that the victims were digging clay sand from the hill before the mountains caved in and buried them alive about ten metres underneath.
The victims are; Muhammad Bawando, Musa Kambaza, Dan- sayyada Kambaza, Abu Takai, Nasir Cheferu, Barmo Babanda, Kalije Bawanda, Yakubu and Aminu.
When confirming the incident to newsmen, at his residence inside the School premises at Badariya Bayan Science, the Proprietor of the School, Malam Dan-umma said seven pupils died on the spot while the eight one was hospitalized as a result of the collapse of the borrow pit that collapsed and buried them while collecting laterite sands.
According to him, “Today is one the saddest days in my life. What happened was, that I assigned them to go to the top of the hill near the School to excavate clay and gravel to mend holes inside their rooms against the upcoming rainy season. But before they come back, I was told a heavy chunk of the laterite hill has fallen over them.”
“I immediately rushed to the scene of the incident where I confirmed seven of them were dead and one other who survived was rushed to the hospital in Birnin Kebbi.”
Dan-umma further said the corpses of the seven deceased pupils were deposited at the mortuary of Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi before taking them to their parents’ houses for funeral.
A Special Adviser to the Kebbi State Governor on Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Mallam Zayyanu Sanka while reacting to the incident, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy and said the government would look into the possibility of banning the excavation of clay, soil or gravels on top of such hills as a deliberate measure to tackle future reoccurrence of such incident.