By Muh’d Abdulbasit In Kano
The death of 14 illustrious sons and daughters of Kano State within two days have further heightened fears over the increasing number of sudden deaths in the State.
Before now, it was mere speculation and allegations as videos and messages emerged on social media and going viral over the number of deaths recorded in the state.
The deaths soon came to limelight with the news of the demise of 12 prominent persons on Saturday and two others on Sunday, bringing it to 14 within two days, causing apprehension among residents and outsiders as to what was happening and responsible for the sudden deaths in the state.
On Saturday, a long list of names exchange hands on social media announcing the deaths of the persons.
The list include names such as, Prof Ibrahim Ayagi the CEO of Hassan Gwarzo School (former Vanguard Newspaper columnist), Alh. Dahiru Rabiu Former Kano Grand Khadi, Dr. Musa Umar Gwarzo the dad of Mahmoud Gwarzo, Mal Musa Tijjani the former Editor of Triumph Newspaper and Alh. Adamu Isyaku Dal former Subeb Executive Secretary.
Others include Alh Salisu Lado, Haj Shamsiyya Mustapha, Haj Nene Umma, Alh. Garba Sarki Fagge, Dr. Nasiru Maikano Bichi Secretary Student Affairs North West Unoversity, Prof. Aliyu Umar Dikko of Physiology department Bayero University Kano, BUK and mother of famous kannywood artist, Ado Gwanja.
Similarly, on Sunday, two other prominent sons of former Commissioner of Education, Alh. Aminu Yahaya and former Head of Department, Mass Communication in Bayero University, Kano, Professor Balarabe Maikaba were also confirmed dead.
The cause of the deaths of all could not be established, however our correspondent spoke with a relation, Musa Gwanja, who said, mother of famous kannywood artist, Ado Gwanja died at the age of 80 years as a result of hypertension and diabetes and have since been buried on Saturday at the Darmanawa cemetery in Tarauni local government area of the state.
He also gathered that, a nephew to the former Grand Khadi, Adamu Balarabe, revealed that his uncle died on Saturday after coming down with catarrh for only two days and was buried at Dandolo cemetery in Kano metropolis.
For late Professor Maikaba, he was said to have died of diabetes and have since been buried according to the Islamic rites.
Investigation and visit to the various cemeteries in the state also confirmed increase cases of deaths recorded.
We bury more corpses now than before, say Kano undertakers
Undertakers at the Kano cemeteries on Thursday said the number of corpses they buried on daily basis was on the increase compared to the past few weeks.
The undertakers made this known after a visit to the Danagundi cemetery in Kano Municipal area and Farm Centre cemetery in Tarauni local government area of the state.
An undertaker in Dan Agundi cemetery, Muhammad Inuwa said nowadays they recorded more corpses for burial at the cemetery.
Inuwa who took the correspondent round the graveyard pointed at clusters of new graves at the cemetery.
According to him, “Only yesterday (Wednesday), we buried about nine persons and all of them were elderly persons. Before now, we spend days without burying a single corpse here.
“Today (Thursday), between 10am and 1pm, we buried five persons and that was all for the day.
“But the death has to do with the hot weather. Once it is hot weather, people die here. Until when rain start falling that the number of deaths will reduce. Since the beginning of the hot weather about 50 people have been brought here for burial. It is just a coincidence with the coronavirus outbreak. Some of the deaths were also as a result of diabetes and hypertension,” Inuwa said.
A visit to another graveyard, the Farm Centre cemetery in Tarauni Local Government, one of the undertakers who pleaded anonymity said before now they used to bury only four or five corpses a day, but in the last 14 days, they have been burying over fifteen corpses daily.
“Initially we used to bury four or five corpses daily in this cemetery, but since the advent of this mysterious deaths, we have been burying 15, 16 and even 17 corpses a day. We have buried nine in the morning and you can see we are digging two graves already for the burial of two people that have been reported a while ago. Before sunset there might be more.
“This is even less than the major cemeteries in the city where the figures are very much higher. But at the rate at which we are burying corpses here, we have buried about 90 in the last seven days” he added.
Graveyard filled to capacity, says undertaker in Abattoir cemetery
Similarly, a visit to the Abattoir Cemetery in Kano, an undertaker who spoke on condition of anonymity said the graveyard is filled to capacity as they are left with no option than to sort for space in between tombs to bury new corpses in such a way that the new tombs are scattered all over the place and not uniformly arranged.
According to him, “mysterious deaths do occur from time to time during the peak of the hot season, but this year’s is indeed overwhelming.
“Some of the relations mention that their dead ones died of underlying ailments like hypertension, diabetes or typhoid. But we cannot say exactly what is killing the people but we bury up to 24 bodies a day here as against the three or four we used to bury before this time.
“Residents of about four different quarters including Fagge and Wambai use this cemetery, indeed the rise in death is overwhelming.
“Another thing that is worth noting is that most of those dying are elderly and a lot of them are said to be having one underlying disease or the other.
“The graveyard is already filled to capacity such that space is sorted in between tombs to bury new corpses, as such the new tombs are scattered all over the place and not uniformly arranged,” the undertaker said.
Medical expert reactions
A medical doctor working with the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Mukhtari Gadanya said, “I would prefer not to speak because the matter is officially under investigation, therefore whatever one will say is going to be speculation.
It is important to note that it has not been ascertained that the deaths occurring in 2020 are more than those that occurred in 2019. Nothing has been confirmed as the cause of the deaths. So whatever one is going to say will only be his perception and not the reality on ground.”
A nursing staff who works with the Infectious Diseases Department, one of the few trained persons in the field, Bashir Yusif conferred with journalists that most of those dying of recent have been exhibiting symptoms of the COVID-19, including cough, fever, difficult breathing and cold, although they have not been tested to confirm it.
Kano Government Reacts …says deaths not connected with covid-19
Kano state government on Sunday acknowledged recent deaths in the state, saying Government was on top of the situation, as Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has already directed the state Ministry of Health to conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the deaths.
In a Statement made available to journalists in Kano, the state Commissioner of Information, Muhammad Garba, said although investigation into the cause of the deaths is still ongoing, preliminary report from the state Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths are not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that reports from the state Ministry of Health has shown that most of the deaths were caused by complications arising from hypertension, diabetes, meningitis and acute malaria.
He further stated that Governor Ganduje was waiting for the final report from the state Ministry of Health, so as to take necessary action.
According to him, Governor Ganduje from the onset, demonstrated the zeal and political will to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
“Governor Ganduje’s administration has been commended from within and outside the state over the proactive measures it took towards curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This explains why Kano, apart from being the most populace state, did not record a case of the pandemic until lately. Though we agree that the situation on hand currently is serious, we are not resting on our oars in taking appropriate measures to ensure that the good people of Kano state, and indeed, residents in the state protect themselves from the novel COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated.
He further noted that part of measures taken by the state government to stop the spread of the virus include the on-going lockdown, closing of boarders, aggressive campaign for social distancing, washing and sanitising of hands, as well as strict adherence to and practice of the principles of personal hygiene.
He added that the government through the Kano COVID-19 Fund-Raising Committee, has been making palliatives available to the most vulnerable and the needy in the society.
Garba said, “moreso, the state government has three modern Isolation Centres where those tested positive to COVID-19 are being cared for. We are also hopeful of getting additional two Isolation Centres soonest.
The government has also hired a hotel where suspected cases are accommodated.
“Also, Kano state government is collaborating with Bayero University Kano (BUK) to establish a testing centre within the institution, which will be ready in two weeks time after being certified by the NCDC. This will, indeed, enhance our determination to ensure that every suspected case undergo test.
“Governor Ganduje has also sent a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to urgently work on the NCDC testing centre at AKTH which has been closed down for sometime now.
“We have enough medical manpower that can take care of the patients. What we are now asking for is financial assistance from the Federal Government and other donors to help sustain all this infrastructure and also continue the provision of palliatives to our people.”
He noted that, “the state government is concerned over what is happening. The Ministry of Health is already handling the situation. When they are through with the medical investigation, further necessary actions will be taken.
“I urge the good people of Kano state not to panic. Government is on top of the situation. The mystery or whatever it is will soon be unravelled.”
