Kano State Government on Monday launched an investigation into reports of mass deaths in the state with many cemeteries said to be witnessing a high number of burials.
State Commissioner Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, who disclosed this, said the state is concerned with Social Media reports that there has been an upsurge in deaths which could not be explained.
“We cannot immediately confirm deaths massively reported by the online media, but I assured you that our information checking mechanisms have been activated and every information regarding mass death as being reported will be checked,” he said.
Government reaction came on the heels of growing anxiety by residents over unexplained deaths in the city within the past three days.
Attendants and undertakers at the Dandolo Cemetery in Goron Dutse within the metropolis told reporters that 61 bodies were buried between Saturday and Sunday alone.
Similarly, at the Gyadi-gyadi Cemetery located at Court Road within the metropolis, 31 bodies were buried on Saturday alone.
The Farm Centre Cemetery also within the metropolis saw 27 burials take place on Saturday.
The Abattoir Cemetery around Kofar Mazugal in the metropolis saw the burial of 13 people from Zango Quarters alone over three days last week.
Between Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Chedi, Ciromawa, Dorayi, Sharifai, Zage, an unascertained number of people died and were buried at the Abattoir Cemetery.
However, one burial attendant did say that normally during this period they usually witnessed an upsurge in deaths which is not new.
Auwalu Abdu Fagge, the Risk Management Officer Ministry of Health, on his part appealed to residents to “kindly disregard the rumors of mass deaths recently in Kano metropolis.”