A 65-year-old woman, identified as Khadija Muhammad, was rescued alive on Wednesday after she fell into a well in Gafiyawa town, located in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State. The successful rescue was confirmed by the Kano State Fire Service, which described the operation as timely and a result of swift action by its emergency response team.
According to the Fire Service, the distress call was made by a resident, Ibrahim Sani Hausawa, who alerted authorities immediately after discovering that the elderly woman had fallen into the well. The agency responded by dispatching a rescue team to the scene without delay.
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the agency said its officers arrived quickly and found the woman trapped at the bottom of the well. Her relatives told the emergency responders that she was mentally ill, a condition which may have contributed to the incident.
“After receiving the call, our men were immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival, they discovered that an old woman of about 65 years, named Khadija Muhammad, according to her relatives, is mentally retarded,” Abdullahi stated.
Despite the depth of the well and the potential danger, the rescue team worked efficiently to bring the woman out alive. The Fire Service said her survival was due to both divine intervention and the professionalism of the rescue officers.
“It was by God’s intervention and through the swift efforts of our men that she was rescued,” Abdullahi added.
After being removed from the well, Khadija Muhammad was handed over to her brother, Malam Ibrahim Dahiru, who expressed deep gratitude to the Fire Service for saving his sister’s life. There were no immediate details on whether she sustained any injuries, but the Fire Service confirmed that she was stable at the time of the rescue.
Following the incident, the Fire Service used the opportunity to warn residents about the danger posed by uncovered or poorly secured wells in homes and public areas. The agency noted that open wells continue to be a major safety risk, especially for children, elderly persons, and individuals living with mental health conditions.
The Fire Service Director urged property owners to take practical measures to make wells safe by building up their edges and installing strong metal covers. According to him, many accidents involving wells can be prevented if proper safety precautions are taken.
These warnings are part of a long-standing effort by the Fire Service and other emergency response agencies to reduce avoidable incidents arising from open wells, abandoned boreholes, and other unsafe structures. Kano State, in particular, has recorded several such incidents in recent years, with some resulting in fatalities, especially among children.
Accidents involving wells remain common in many rural and semi-urban communities in northern Nigeria. Due to water scarcity in some areas, households often rely on hand-dug wells which may be left uncovered or inadequately protected. In many cases, such wells are located in open compounds where family members move around freely.
In previous incidents, young children, elderly individuals, and mentally ill persons have fallen into wells, sometimes leading to tragic outcomes. The Fire Service has repeatedly appealed to residents to take responsibility for securing their environment, but many homes still lack proper well coverings.
Emergency responders say that most well accidents happen during routine daily activities, such as drawing water, washing clothes, or moving around the compound at night. Some falls occur when wells are dug too close to walkways or when they are left open after repairs.
The quick response of the Kano State Fire Service in Wednesday’s incident has drawn praise from residents of Gafiyawa and surrounding communities. Many locals said the prompt action prevented what could have been a fatal accident.
The Fire Service in Kano is widely regarded as one of the most responsive in the country. In addition to fire outbreaks, the agency handles a wide range of emergency situations, including rescue operations involving wells, collapsed buildings, road accidents, and flooding.
Officials say they remain committed to protecting lives and property, but also stress the importance of preventive measures by community members. They note that most accidents can be avoided if residents comply with safety guidelines.
Following the rescue, community leaders in Gafiyawa urged residents to remain alert and take extra precautions to safeguard vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly and those living with mental health conditions.
They also appealed to government agencies and non-profit groups to support awareness campaigns on home safety, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities where open wells are common.
As Khadija Muhammad continues to recover after her ordeal, many in the community consider her survival a blessing. Her rescue serves as both a relief and a reminder of the everyday dangers faced by vulnerable residents in environments where basic safety infrastructure is often lacking.
