13 human interest stories of 2013

Losing 5 kids to fire
The year started on relatively a very peaceful note. But in February, the story that a university don Engineer Magaji Tambaya lost five of his kids and neighbour’s daughter to fire left many people, especially members of his family shocked. The tragedy struck at Panshekara, Kumbotso local government of Kano State.
“Some of my children were burnt to death in the kitchen and the others in the toilet, probably looking for a way to escape the fire,” tearful Hajiya Tambaya, the mother, narrated.
Killing of eleven polio workers
They went out on a life and physical deformity saving mission, but they ended up losing theirs. This was the story of Jamila Yusuf, Ramlat Idris, Ibrahim Mohammed, Sadi Mohammed and seven others. They were killed by some unknown gunmen at a local Shargalle clinic in Filin Cashew at Unguwa Uku of Kano metropolis for participating in the polio eradication exercise.
“I picked my veil and rushed to the clinic knowing that my two children were there. On reaching the scene I met Sadi in pool of blood with deep bullet opening on his chest,” said Malama Harira, mother of Ibrahim and Sadi Ibrahim.
The three headed baby
The birth of a new baby is always greeted with joy. But when Malama Zainab, a 19-year old mother, was gave birth at the Malumfashi General Hospital in Katsina State on March 3 2013, there was no celebration. What her family members thought were twins as indicated through scanning turned out to be a three-headed baby girl.
“During my ante-natal visits to hospital, I was told I was carrying twins, but to my utmost surprise, I gave birth to a three-headed baby,” Zainab said.
Kidney selling man of Kano
For 30-year-old Suleiman Sani, the ‘simplest way to raise money and settle my debt,’ was to sell what he has. He eventually settled for his kidney hoping to use the money to pay off the debt he owed his in-law. There was never a story of interested buyers, though.
Soldier-horse marries in Kaduna
In April, the military authorities in Kaduna arranged a marriage for one of its own – a soldier-horse Sergeant Dan Fari Akawala – who took Yelwa as his wife in grand style. The wedding was attended by all who-is-who in the 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, including the General officer Commanding (GOC). There were prayers and a dowry of N20, 000 for the wedding to be fruitful and official.
The father that wants his son to live
It was a typical father son relationship that prompted 55-year old Alhaji Adamu Abubakar who sold his farms and donated his kidney for son Ado Mannir, 31, to live. Mannir was diagnosed with kidney failure and needed a transplant. He didn’t have to look far as his father came to his aid. An operation was successfully carried out at MalamAminu Kano Teaching hospital on May 2, 2013.
Son kills mother, two sisters
Kamal Yusuf masterminded the killing of his biological mother Hajiya Hafsatu and two of his siblings, Amina and Maryam. The mother was slaughtered along with Amina while Maryam was believed to have been strangulated. The mother went to a bank with Kamal where she withdrew N800, 000 but the son demanded some and she explained that it was for something else, not satisfied with the explanation, he decided to collect the money through other means and at night invited his friends to his home. He was later arrested along with his accomplices.
Seven-month old pregnancy disappeared
Is it possible for a seven month old-pregnancy to disappear without trace? Well, Mrs Halima Dogara, mother of two, claimed the pregnancy she conceived in January disappeared in July 2013. Medical personnel at Dabo Mohammed Lere Memorial Samina Kaduna state confirmed that Mrs Halima had booked for day and was attending the antenatal at the Hospital and that they are still confused. Many doctors said she must have miscarried the pregnancy without knowing it.
New bride slit husband’s throat
A 17 year old Maryam Yahaya found herself in police custody after allegedly slitting the throat of her weeks-old husband Lawal Mohammad Bala. The incident left the people of their Gangare neighbourhood in Jos shocked and confused. She was later said to have confessed to committing the crime and claimed the late husband was demanding for sex too much which she couldn’t bear.
Man risks life to save baby
In a clear show of bravery, a 27-year-old, Michael Anthony, put himself in harm’s way to rescue a 16-month old baby Saanmoyol Terfa who was trapped in an inferno. Michael who relocated together with his parents to Benue didn’t know Saanmoyol, but succeeded in getting the baby to safety but sustained severe burns and injuries in the process, which eventually led to his death.
Before he gave us the ghost days after at the hospital he said “I’m grateful, however, that the attempt was successful. I don’t in any way regret my action. No matter what it turns out to be (life or death), my joy is to make heaven at last,” he said. Many have recommended the late young man for a posthumous national award.
Lanti stole and renamed Abdulshakur
Hajiya Lanti, claiming to be a traditional medicine healer, visited Maitangadi village in Soba local government of Kaduna State. She was in Malam Badamasi’s house two days after the naming ceremony of Abdulshakur, whom she stole, relocated to Saminaka and renamed him Hassan. She even went further to give the boy a facial mark in an effort to keep him. She was finally caught.
Housewife conspired with lover to kill husband
A housewife Yakbyen Nanbol, 25, has allegedly been having extra marital affair with Nanbol Samson, a 25 year-old sugarcane hawker in Langtang Local government of Plateau state. Samson is a friend to Yakbyen’s husband who was away in Port Harcourt. They decided to get married but Nanbol was the obstacle, so they decided to kill him for them to formalize their relationship. The duo reportedly connived to end Nanbols life on September 31, 2013, the operation which they successfully carried out with the help of some friends. But they were later caught.
Bride, 7 co-travellers died moments after wedding
For the family of Alhaji Adamu Bajoga, of Suleja Niger state, November 30, 2013, will forever be remembered for the tragedy that befell them. Their newly wedded daughter and seven of her friends were in involved in an accident at Gaya town in Kano state on their way to Jama’are in Bauchi state. The bride Aisha Adamu, her younger sister Zainab and others were all sent to their graves when their car had a head-on-collision with an on-coming vehicle.