By Abdulkadir Muhammad Alhaji.
A deadly water-filled excavation site on the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis has once again drawn attention as community leaders renewed calls on the Bauchi State Government to intervene, warning that the pond has continued to claim lives, particularly those of children.
The pond, popularly known as Sari Loda, is located in Dumi community, about three kilometres from the Bauchi city centre. Residents said it was created several years ago when contractors excavated soil from the area for road construction, leaving behind a large pit that later filled with water.
Since then, the site has become a dangerous attraction for children, with repeated drowning incidents prompting growing concern among residents and traditional leaders.
The District Head of Dumin Sama, Alhaji Hussaini Abubakar, said the community had lost many children to the pond despite continuous efforts to prevent such tragedies.
He explained that although parents in Dumi have consistently warned their children against swimming in the pond, many children from other parts of Bauchi metropolis, including Bakaro, Kofar Dumi, Karofi and neighbouring communities, still visit the site. According to him, many of the victims were unable to swim, turning what appeared to be a recreational spot into a recurring scene of tragedy.
Hussaini Abubakar disclosed that authorities had previously deployed security personnel to prevent children from accessing the pond, but the measure proved ineffective. He said whenever the children were chased away, they would return, climb onto the surrounding rocks and throw stones at those trying to stop them.
He appealed to parents across Bauchi metropolis to pay closer attention to their children’s movements and ensure they do not visit the pond. He also urged the Bauchi State Government to permanently fill the excavation, saying only the government has the capacity to eliminate the danger and prevent further loss of lives.
Also speaking, the District Head of Dumin Kasa, Muhammadu Abubakar, dismissed widespread claims that the pond was linked to spirits or supernatural forces, describing such assertions as false and misleading.
According to him, the dark appearance of the water is caused by the surrounding rock formations and not by any mystical phenomenon. He stressed that the real danger lies in the depth of the water, noting that anyone who enters without swimming skills faces the risk of drowning.
“Even I, as the district head, would lose my life if I entered the water without knowing how to swim,” he said.
Muhammadu Abubakar also dismissed claims that the pond only claims the lives of visitors from outside the community. He explained that local leaders have consistently discouraged children in Dumi from going near the pond, while many children from other parts of Bauchi enter the site without their parents’ knowledge.
He further raised concerns over the environmental impact of the excavation, saying continuous erosion has begun eating into the nearby road. During periods of heavy rainfall, he added, water from the pond overflows onto the roadway, creating an additional hazard for motorists and other road users.
The district head appealed to the Bauchi State Government to urgently intervene by filling the pond or fencing off the area to prevent access, warning that unless decisive action is taken, the community fears more lives could be lost.
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