- Safiu Kehinde
A tragic industrial accident has claimed lives of four workers at the Gubi Water Treatment Plant in Bauchi.
This was confirmed in a statement issued to newsmen by the Bauchi State Police Command’s spokesman, CSP Ahmed Wakili, on Sunday.
According to Wakili, the incident occurred during a sludge cleaning operation inside the plant’s tunnels.
The Police spokesperson listed the victims as Shayibu Hamza (48), Abdulmalik Yahya (29), Jamilu Inusa (29) and Ibrahim Musa (42).
The victims, who were all residents of Firo village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state, had reportedly entered a clarifier to dislodge pit pipes when the incident occured.
“They were retrieved unconscious from the tunnel and rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where they were later confirmed dead.
“Police personnel were swiftly deployed to the scene as investigation into the cause of the incident commenced.
“The management of the water treatment facility is said to be cooperating fully with the authorities to ensure a thorough review,” he said
Wakili, however, stressed the importance of stringent safety measures in such high-risk environments.
“Safety must be non-negotiable in operations like this,” he said.
He urged the management and workers across the sector to adhere strictly to established safety protocols.
Wakili said the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, extended condolences on behalf of the command to the victims’ families, colleagues and management of the plant.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the police to improving safety standards to prevent such occurrences in future.