Tragedy occurred in Bauchi, Bauchi State capital as three children died
in an hot porridge accident.
It was gathered that extremely hot porridge being transported in a
tricycle in Bauchi claimed the lives of three children, aged between
nine months and nine years.
The porridge was being transported in a jumbo-size plastic flask when
the tricycle plunged into a pothole and upturned, emptying its
contents on the occupants of the tricycle.
Narrating the incident on Sunday, a relation of the victims, Auwal
Bala, said the tragedy occurred on Wednesday while the family was
celebrating the marriage of a member.
“Three women and six children were inside the tricycle conveying the
porridge, known as ‘gwate’ in local parlance, to the venue of the
celebration.
“The flask containing the porridge was placed inside the tricycle at
the top rear and when the tricycle plunged into a large pothole, it
somersaulted and the extremely hot content of the flask poured on the
children on their heads, shoulders and chests.
“Three of the children, namely Aniya Yahaya, six years; Mariam
Mohammed, nine years and Ibrahim Yusuf, nine months, died from serious
burns, while a fourth child, Khadijah Usman, aged seven, is currently
in critical condition,” Mr Bala said.
He said one of the women also sustained injuries, while the remaining
two children and two women escaped unhurt.
He said losing three members of the family, mostly children, was most
traumatic, but added that they had since gone ‘philosophical’ about
the incident.
“God giveth, God taketh, and who are we to question the will of God,” he said.
