Kano Tragedy: 4 Almajiri Students Die After Eating Suspected Contaminated Fish
Four Almajiri students have died in Kano State after reportedly falling critically ill following the consumption of suspected contaminated fish, while another student survived after stopping midway through the meal.
The deceased were identified as Abdulfatah Mohammed, 15; Yusuf Nuhu, 16; Buhari Iliyasu, 14; and Ibrahim Muhammad, 22.
The fifth student, 18-year-old Auwalu Surajo, reportedly survived after refusing to continue eating the fish and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The students were enrolled at a Tsangaya (Qur’anic) school owned by Gwani Malam Iliyasu Mai Tsangaya in Kadage Sharifai, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State.
Narrating how he survived, Surajo Unguwar Gareji, a friend of one of the deceased, said the students began eating the fish at about 7am after one of them brought it out.
He said he tasted the fish but stopped eating after noticing that it had an unusual taste.
«“I tasted the fish but immediately stopped eating because it did not taste normal,” he said.»
Another student, Malam Umar, said he also declined to eat the fish after suspecting that it was unsafe.
According to him, shortly after the other students ate the fish, four of them became unconscious and developed severe symptoms.
He said the incident was immediately reported to their teacher, who arranged for the affected students to be taken to hospital.
“Unfortunately, the four of them were later confirmed dead by medical doctors at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital,” he said.
The National Chairman of the Tsangaya Media Network, Gwani Sani Musa Nuhu, had earlier confirmed that the students were rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital after falling ill following the consumption of suspected contaminated food.
In a statement, he said the four students died at the hospital on Sunday night, August 16.
How the students found the fish
Investigations by Daily Trust indicated that the incident occurred at the residence of Malam Iliyasu Zulyadaini, where Abdulfatah reportedly performed domestic chores.
A resident, Malam Aliyu, said Abdulfatah usually swept the rooms and compound and allegedly found the fish beneath a chair while cleaning the premises.
According to him, the boy took the fish outside and shared it with his colleagues, apparently unaware that it might have been contaminated.
Aliyu said he only became aware of the incident after the students had been taken to hospital, adding that it took some time before the circumstances surrounding the food they had consumed became known.
The remains of the four victims were subsequently buried according to Islamic rites after approval was obtained from the district head, or Dagaci, and the police.
School proprietor loses son, relatives
The proprietor of the Tsangaya school, Gwani Malam Iliyasu, described the incident as a devastating tragedy for the affected families and the school community.
He said one of the deceased was his son, while another was his brother’s son. The remaining two, he added, were sons of his friends.
“Among the deceased, one was my son, and another was my brother’s son. Two others were sons of my friends,” he said.
Iliyasu, who is originally from Jigawa State, said he established the Qur’anic school several years ago to teach students and help them memorise the Holy Qur’an.
He said many of the students were from his village and some were members of his extended family, making the deaths particularly painful.
According to him, residents informed him shortly after the students became ill.
He said the victims were initially taken to Karamchi Private Hospital before being referred to Waziri Gidado General Hospital, Bachirawa. They were subsequently transferred to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano Infectious Diseases Hospital in Fagge and, finally, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where four of them were confirmed dead.
Iliyasu said he immediately contacted the parents of the deceased and informed them of the incident.
He added that the parents attended the funeral prayers for their children and accepted the tragedy as the will of Allah.
‘They were part of my family’
Malam Iliyasu Zulyadaini, at whose residence the incident occurred, said he was devastated by the deaths.
He explained that the students had been staying in his house because of its proximity to their school.
Zulyadaini, a former student of the Tsangaya school, said he had provided accommodation for the students for several years, during which they became closely attached to his family.
He said he immediately reported the incident to the Bachirawa Divisional Police Station and accompanied the affected students to hospital.
Zulyadaini also said the tragedy affected his wife, who he claimed suffered a miscarriage and was subsequently admitted to hospital.
“It is the most difficult thing I have ever seen in my life. I will never forget it,” he said.
Police launch investigation
The Kano State Police Command confirmed the incident and said an investigation had commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the deceased were indigenes of Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area of Jigawa State who had travelled to Kano to study and memorise the Qur’an.
He said the command would inform the public of the outcome of its investigation when concluded.
Doctor advises against home remedies
A Kano-based medical doctor, Dr Usman Abdullahi Nagogo, described food poisoning as an illness caused by consuming food or water contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins.
He said common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps or pain, fever and weakness.
According to him, symptoms may occur within minutes or hours of consuming contaminated food, although some cases may take several days before becoming apparent.
Nagogo said prompt medical attention generally improves the chances of survival.
He warned members of the public against attempting to neutralise suspected poisons or administering unverified home remedies to affected persons.
He advised anyone suspected of food poisoning or exposure to an unknown substance to seek emergency medical attention immediately.
He also recommended preserving the suspected food or substance, where possible, for examination by relevant health authorities.
The doctor further advised against inducing vomiting unless specifically directed to do so by a qualified medical professional or poison-control expert.
The exact cause of the deaths remains subject to the ongoing investigation by the relevant authorities.
