Some burglars suspected of stealing rods and other building supplies from Kano State’s collapsed Daula Hotel are currently stuck beneath the rubble.
The factory was demolished on the instructions of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who has vowed to reclaim “illegally sold out” government properties.
According to reports, one of the suspects died, three others were rescued, and several others remain unaccounted for.
According to eyewitnesses, the event occurred about 2:30pm, when the looters were scouring the remains of the wrecked structure for iron rods.
The Public Relations Officer, Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif who spoke to our reporter at the scene of the incident, said his team had so far rescued three persons.
Yusuf said, “Our team rescued three alive, one had fracture on his leg but his relatives have gone with him. Two left on their own after they were rescued.
“I was told there is other persons inside but until he is brought out you cannot tell how many persons were trapped in there. But as you can see, our men were still on rescue mission.”
Also speaking, an eyewitness, Isah Ibrahim, said, “We were working upstairs and mostly these scavengers were down also taking one or two things. The problem is, when you are up there, they are trying to demolish the under which is very wrong.”
Men of fire service, NEMA, police, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Agency, KNUPDA among others were seen at the scene trying to rescue others trapped in the building.