Two youths drown in Kano while fleeing suspected phone snatchers

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Two youths drown in Kano while fleeing suspected phone snatchers

In a tragic incident that has shaken the Kumbotso community in Kano State, two 18-year-old youths lost their lives after drowning in an open water body while reportedly trying to escape from suspected phone snatchers. The episode occurred on Friday, March 6, 2026, at about 4:04 p.m. on Ring Road, Kureken Sani, in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state, according to the Kano State Fire Service.

Officials said that the Kano State Fire Service Emergency Response Unit received a distress call from a resident. About four minutes later, a rescue team from the Service’s headquarters was dispatched to the scene after being alerted to an emergency at the water body.

On arrival, the firefighters found two teenagers, Sadiq Isyaku and Auwal Isyaku, both aged 18, who had fallen into an open pond. They were pulled from the water unconscious but were later confirmed dead by emergency responders. Their bodies were handed over to their father, Ibrahim Shehu, a resident of Unguwa Uku Quarters in Kano.

Preliminary information gathered by authorities suggested that the youths were being pursued by suspected phone snatchers at the time of the incident. In their attempt to evade the assailants, they ran toward the water body and slipped into it, leading to the fatal drownings.

The confirmation of these deaths underscores broader concerns about the safety of young people in urban areas, particularly amid rising petty crimes like phone snatching. While Kano State has seen effective policing in some quarters, residents have expressed persistent fears about mobile phone theft and related attacks by criminals who often operate on motorcycles or other fast vehicles. Such criminal methods commonly involve snatching phones from unsuspecting pedestrians or commuters, sometimes with threats of violence, creating high-risk situations for victims and bystanders alike.

The Kano State Fire Service also reported a separate but non-fatal rescue on Monday, March 9, 2026, when its Emergency Response Unit was alerted to a 40-year-old man who had fallen into a well. The victim, identified as Shitu Balarabe, was located at about 7:12 p.m. in the Durumin Zungura area by Assahabul Khahafi in Kano city. The rescue team successfully brought him out alive and in stable condition, handing him over to his brother, Jamilu Balarabe, lauding the efforts of community responders.

In response to the double tragedies, the fire service extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and urged members of the public to exercise caution around open water bodies. Authorities emphasised that open ponds, drainage channels, and exposed water reservoirs pose significant hazards — particularly during pursuits or flights from danger — and recommended that youths and community members avoid such areas whenever possible.

Residents in Kureken Sani and surrounding neighbourhoods described the atmosphere in the aftermath as somber, with families and community leaders mourning the loss of the two young men. Many condemned the violence linked to property snatching and said the deaths spotlight ongoing security challenges that compound everyday life in some urban districts. They are calling for enhanced deployment of security personnel, improved lighting in high-risk areas, and proactive engagement between law enforcement and community volunteers to deter criminal activities and safeguard lives.

Public safety advocates have also urged local authorities and civil society partners to address broader environmental safety issues, including the construction of protective barriers around open ponds and drainage points to prevent future accidental falls — a risk that compounds when youths are in flight from threats such as robbery or snatching.

The deaths of Sadiq and Auwal have renewed calls for a comprehensive approach that combines improved security operations, community awareness campaigns, and infrastructure safety interventions to ensure that residents, especially young people, can move about their communities without fear of violence or accidental harm.

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