A cloud of grief has descended on a Tsangaya school in Kano State after four Almajiri students reportedly died from suspected food poisoning linked to a fish they consumed, while another student remains hospitalised in a case that has left residents searching for answers.

The victims, identified as Abdulfatah Mohammed, 15; Yusuf Nuhu, 16; Buhari Iliyasu, 14; and Ibrahim Muhammad, 22, were said to have fallen critically ill shortly after eating the fish under circumstances that are now the subject of a police investigation.

An 18-year-old student, Auwalu Surajo, survived the incident and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

The students were pupils of a Tsangaya (Qur’anic) school run by Gwani Malam Iliyasu Mai Tsangaya in Kadage Sharifai, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State.

According to the National Chairman of the Tsangaya Media Network, Gwani Sani Musa Nuhu, the affected students were rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) after suddenly developing severe health complications believed to be connected to contaminated food.

Despite efforts to save them, four of the students were pronounced dead at the hospital on Sunday night, throwing the school community and the victims’ families into mourning.

While authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the deaths, accounts from friends and residents suggest that the tragedy may have started with a seemingly harmless discovery.

A close friend of the victims, Malam Surajo Unguwar Gareji, said he was present when one of the students brought out a fish early that morning.

According to him, several students initially gathered to eat the fish, but he stopped after tasting it because something seemed unusual.

“The taste was not normal,” he recalled, explaining that his suspicion prompted him to avoid eating any more of it.

Another friend, identified simply as Malam Umar, said he also declined to eat the fish because he felt it might not be safe for consumption.

Their fears appeared justified moments later when four of the students who had eaten the fish reportedly became unconscious and developed severe symptoms.

Alarmed by the sudden deterioration in their condition, fellow students informed their teacher, who immediately arranged for them to be taken to hospital.

Unfortunately, medical efforts proved unsuccessful as four of the victims later succumbed to the illness.

The head of the Tsangaya school, Gwani Malam Iliyasu, described the incident as a devastating loss not only to the school but also to the affected families and the wider Muslim community.

He offered prayers for the deceased students and asked Allah to grant them eternal rest while comforting their grieving relatives.

Further details gathered from residents indicate that the incident may have originated at the residence of a local resident, Malam Iliyasu Zulyadaini, where one of the deceased students, Abdulfatah, regularly assisted with household chores.

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According to a resident, Malam Aliyu, the teenager reportedly discovered the fish beneath a chair while cleaning the compound.

Unaware of any danger, Abdulfatah allegedly took the fish outside and shared it with his friends.

Residents said the students had no reason to suspect that the fish might have been contaminated or unsafe.

The tragic development only became clear after the victims were rushed to hospital, prompting shock and confusion throughout the community.

As speculation continues over what may have caused the deaths, the Kano State Police Command has confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said authorities were working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

He disclosed that the deceased students were natives of Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area of Jigawa State who had travelled to Kano for Qur’anic studies.

Kiyawa assured the public that the findings of the investigation would be made available once completed.

The victims have since been buried according to Islamic rites following approval from traditional and security authorities.

Meanwhile, medical experts have cautioned the public against self-medication or relying on unverified home remedies in suspected poisoning cases.

A Kano-based physician, Dr Usman Abdullahi Nagogo, explained that food poisoning occurs when contaminated food or water containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins is consumed.

He noted that symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and extreme weakness, adding that the speed of onset often depends on the contaminant involved.

Dr Nagogo stressed that prompt medical intervention significantly improves survival chances and advised members of the public to seek immediate emergency care whenever poisoning is suspected.

He also warned against forcing victims to vomit or administering substances believed to neutralise poison without professional guidance.

As investigators work to unravel the mystery behind the deaths, the tragic loss of four young students has left a grieving community waiting for answers—and hoping such a heartbreaking incident never happens again.