The Police Command in Bauchi State has confirmed a tragic industrial accident which claimed the lives of four workers at the Gubi Water Treatment Plant in Bauchi.
The spokesman of the command, CSP Ahmed Wakili, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Sunday in Bauchi.
According to him, the incident occurred during a sludge extraction operation in plant tunnels.
Wakili listed the victims as Shayibu Hamza (48), Abdulmalik Yahya (29), Jamilu Inusa (29) and Ibrahim Musa (42).
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that they were all residents of Firo village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.
According to Wakili, the workers were inside a clarifier clearing blockages from pit pipes when the incident happened.
They were pulled out unconscious and rushed to Specialist Hospital in Bauchi, where they were pronounced dead.
Wakili said the workers had entered a clarifier to dislodge pit pipes when the incident occurred.
“Police personnel were deployed on time 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
However Wakili, emphasized on the importance of strict safety measures in such unsafe conditions.
“Safety is non-negotiable in operations like this,”; he said.
He urged the management and workers across the sector to follow safety protocols closely.
In addition Wakili stated that the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, gave his 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.
