Four staff members of the Gubi-Dam water Treatment Plant, a Bauchi government-owned urban water supply facility, have died while cleaning the Plant’s reservoir on Sunday.
The staff of the Plant performs the traditional routine of cleaning the water facility at specific intervals.
WikkiTimes gathered that among the victims are a father and his son in the tragic incident. One of the victims died a few weeks before his planned wedding.
WikkiTimes also learnt that two of the deceased workers were on permanent appointment, while the other two were on casual appointment.
They were identified as Ibrahim Musa, Shu’aibu Hamza, Jamilu Yunusa
and Abdulmalik Ibrahim Hamza.
A source at the Bauchi State Water Agency, who pleaded for anonymity, explained, “It happened that they were cleaning the water system where the water that supplies the Bauchi metropolis is being treated. They were in a reservoir and saw some fish inside the dirty water. One of them was trying to catch fish. The fish was going deep, and he followed it and died in the process. His colleague, who saw what happened, tried to rescue him but also died.
“Also, the third person was rescuing the second colleague while the fourth person tried to save them before he fell off and died –four of them have been buried today, Sunday.”
Commissioner for Water Resources, Nuhu Zaki, could not be reached for comment on the incident. Calls placed through his mobile lines were not responded to. The text message sent to him had not been replied to at press time.
But faithful who attended the funeral prayer for the deceased at the Palace of the Emir of Bauchi this evening confirmed sighting the commissioner among the mourners.
