A tragic incident has claimed the lives of five minors when a fence collapsed on them in the Bulumkutu neighbourhood of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The incident, which occurred around 8pm, also left another child with serious injuries currently receiving medical attention at an undisclosed healthcare facility.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, who disclosed this during a telephone conversation yesterday, revealed that all the deceased victims were under 16 years of age.
According to him, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bulumkutu Division promptly reported the devastating occurrence to the command headquarters.
“We received information about the incident through the DPO of Bulumkutu Division. Six children were affected when the fence came down on them. Sadly, five died on the spot, while the sixth victim, who sustained various degrees of injury, is hospitalised,” Daso stated.
The police image-maker disclosed that the command has launched full-scale investigations to unravel circumstances surrounding the disaster, including possible negligence on the part of property owners.
“Our immediate response was to commence investigation into the structural integrity of the fence, what caused its collapse, and other related matters. We need to establish whether negligence played any role in this unfortunate development,” he explained.
While commiserating with families of the deceased, Daso urged residents to prioritise safety standards in construction and exercise proper supervision over their wards.
“We appeal to the public to ensure they adhere to proper building standards and maintain constant surveillance over their children to prevent such tragedies,” he advised.