A section of Bauchi historic wall built over 200 years ago in the famous traditional Galadiman Bauchi House collapsed on Saturday, killing two people, injuring three.
The tragedy occurred in the Nassarawa Jahun area of Bauchi Metropolis when part of the ancient wall collapsed on an adjacent building.
Abdullahi Aliyu, a father of five and his neighbour’s wife Bilkisu Yahaya, a mother of five were identified as the dead.
Chairman of Bauchi Local Government Area, Alhaji Lawal Maji, who was represented by the Director, Education and Social Development, Alhaji Aminu Yahaya, at the scene, described the incident as unfortunate and sad.
The chairman commiserated with the families of the deceased and appealed to the people to build their houses at least 20 metres away from the wall to avoid another sad incident.
The Galadiman Bauchi, Alhaji Saidu Jahun, said there had been signs that the wall would collapse. He attributed the incident to the early morning rain on that fateful day.
Jahun, who is the immediate past Rector, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, said residents need to build their houses far away from the walls to enable authorities to carry out repairs on it.
He said, “It is a very sad incident and I pray Allah to grant the families the fortitude to bear the loss. It is sad but one needs to submit to Allah.”
The two daughters of Abdullahi, who survived the collapse of the wall gave an account of how the wall caught them unawares.
Asamau and her sister Hafsat, said their father was sleeping in his room when the wall fell and killed him.
The two sisters, who were pulled out from the rubble of the collapsed building with two other survivors.
Asmau whose body was covered with red earth, said, “We were sitting inside the parlour with my sister when the house started falling. My father was inside his room sleeping when the building collapsed on him.”
A survivor, Jamila Salihu, said she was preparing food for the wedding of a neighbour with Bilkisu in Abdullahi’s compound when the incident happened.
