Five children have lost their lives, while one sustained injuries, following the collapse of a fence in the Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri, Borno State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred at about 8pm on Sunday.

Confirming the incident to PUNCH Online in a telephone interview on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said the survivor is currently undergoing treatment, while investigations into the incident have commenced.

He said, “Yesterday, at about 8pm, we received a report through the Divisional Police Officer of Bulumkutu Division of a fence which’fell on six children. Unfortunately, five of the children, all below the age of 16, lost their lives, while one sustained injuries and is currently in the hospital.”

While highlighting the efforts of the police regarding the incident, Daso said, “The first action by the command is that we have immediately commenced investigation into the fence, how it fell, and other issues surrounding it.

“So, we want to know if there is any act of negligence or whatever thing that surrounds it,” he added.

He, however, called on members of the public to maintain good structural standards when erecting buildings and to keep a close watch on their children.

“Nevertheless, we are calling on members of the public to be mindful of structural positioning, maintain good structural standards, and keep an eye on their children,” he said.

It could be recalled that on July 30, PUNCH Online reported that heavy rainfall collapsed eight buildings and displaced some residents in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

The rain, which started around 6:15am, lasted for about three hours, leading to the displacement of families in Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari, Ngomari, and other riverbank areas.

Daso, the PPRO at the time, said in a statement, “In the wake of the heavy rainfall that affected parts of Maiduguri, Gomari, Bulumkutu, Jidari, ITE and others, the Borno State Police Command has swiftly carried out on-the-scene assessments and deployed patrol teams across the impacted areas.

“Unfortunately, eight buildings collapsed, but no casualties were recorded,” he stated. (The PUNCH)

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