Two children have died while two others sustained injuries after a tree uprooted by a violent windstorm collapsed on them during a heavy downpour in Bashe Village, on the outskirts of Burra, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Tuesday and urged residents, particularly parents and guardians, to discourage children from taking shelter under trees during rainstorms.
The command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Nafiu Habib, said in a statement that the Burra Divisional Police Headquarters received a report from the officer in charge of the Bashe Police Outstation on Monday that a heavy rainfall accompanied by a strong windstorm had struck the community.
According to him, five children identified as Amina Maharazu, 8; Asiya Tasiu, 8; Samaila Tasiu, 10; Sulaiman M. Rabiu, 12; and Yusuf M. Salmanu, 8, all residents of Bashe Village, had sought refuge beneath a tree to escape the rain when the wind uprooted the tree, causing it to fall on them.
Habib said police officers were immediately dispatched to the scene and evacuated the victims to the Primary Health Care Centre in Bashe for treatment.
He disclosed that Amina Maharazu and Asiya Tasiu were confirmed dead by medical personnel, while Samaila Tasiu escaped unhurt.
He added that Sulaiman M. Rabiu and Yusuf M. Salmanu are receiving treatment and are responding positively.
“The scene was documented, and the bodies of the deceased were released to their families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites,” the police spokesman said.
He added that an investigation into the incident had commenced.
Habib also stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured children a speedy recovery.
The commissioner further appealed to parents and guardians to educate children on the dangers of taking shelter beneath trees during storms and heavy rainfall to prevent similar tragedies in the future.