Tragedy struck in Dankama Local Government Area of Katsina State as a mother and her five children lost their lives when their house collapsed during a heavy downpour.
The incident happened around 2 a.m. on Tuesday while the family was asleep.
According to reports, the building caved in as a result of the rain, leading to the deaths of six people.
The father of the children, Muhammad Sani, confirmed the heartbreaking incident to journalists in Katsina.
He said he was not at home when the building collapsed and was devastated by the news.
“This affected about 10 people, but sadly, six didn’t survive. Three are currently receiving treatment in the hospital,” he said.
The victims have been identified as Mariya Sani, 45; Mujahid, 20; Zahariya, 18; Hauwa, 15; Amira; and five-year-old Nura Sani.
Sani said the loss was painful but added, “I surrender to Allah’s will. May He grant them eternal rest.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the incident has thrown the entire community into mourning. Many neighbours and relatives have visited the family house to sympathize and offer their support.
The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Emergency Management Agency, Hajiya Binta Dangani, also confirmed the incident.
She said officials from the agency had been sent to visit the family and assess the situation for proper follow-up.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
