Kano Tragedy: Man Suffocates After Climbing Into Well to Recover Burning Gas Cylinder

Fire Service details failed rescue in Gwarzo, warns public about deadly risks of confined spaces.

A 30-year-old man has died in Kano State after entering a well in a desperate attempt to retrieve a gas cylinder that had been thrown inside while still burning.

The incident happened on Sunday at Saulawa Quarters in Gwarzo town, Gwarzo Local Government Area, according to the Kano State Fire Service.

Spokesperson for the Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, said in a statement on Monday that the Gwarzo fire unit received an emergency alert from a resident reporting that a man had gone down into a well under dangerous conditions.

“The Gwarzo branch office received a call from Alhaji Dan Dauda Gwarzo, who reported that a man had entered a well,” the statement said.

The victim, identified as Ashahabu Ubale, reportedly climbed into the well to recover the burning gas cylinder. Fire officials explained that gases trapped in the confined space displaced oxygen, creating a fatal environment.

“The gas released inside the well led to a lack of oxygen, which resulted in suffocation,” the Fire Service stated.

An emergency response team was dispatched immediately and succeeded in pulling the man out. He was found unconscious and later confirmed dead.

His body was handed over to Police Constable Muhammad Zakiyyu of the Gwarzo Police Division.

Using the incident as a warning, the Fire Service urged members of the public to avoid entering wells and other hazardous spaces without proper safety equipment or professional support.

“We strongly advise the public to observe safety precautions around open wells and hazardous areas, as entering such places without professional equipment can be fatal,” the statement added.