An 8-year-old girl, Siyama Idris, has died after falling onto an exposed iron rod at an ongoing road and drainage reconstruction site in Tudun Wada quarters, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The incident occurred near Tudun Wada Primary School, where major reconstruction and expansion work is underway on the access road and drainage channels serving the densely populated neighbourhood.

Residents said the project, which has narrowed access routes and opened deep drainage lines, left iron reinforcement bars protruding along the pathway regularly used by pedestrians, including schoolchildren.

An eyewitness, Abdulrashid Yusuf, said Siyama had been sent by her family to a nearby provision shop to buy items for iftar when the tragedy happened.

He explained that the ongoing drainage work had cut across the usual footpath, and no formal pedestrian crossing had been provided. Instead, locals resorted to using a makeshift wooden plank, known as a gadar katako, laid across the open drainage to reach homes and shops on the other side.

According to Yusuf, Siyama attempted to cross using the plank when she slipped and fell directly onto one of the exposed iron rods fixed for the drainage structure. The impact left her critically injured before bystanders rushed to her aid.

Residents said the girl was taken to a nearby health facility, but she did not survive her injuries. Her death has thrown the community into mourning and sparked anger over what many described as avoidable negligence at the construction site.

Community members accused the contractors and supervising authorities of failing to provide basic safety measures, such as barricades, warning signs, or secure pedestrian crossings, despite the heavy use of the route by children and traders.

Parents in the area called for an immediate review of safety protocols at all ongoing construction sites, particularly those close to schools and residential areas. Some residents urged the Kano State Government and Nassarawa Local Government officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding the project and ensure accountability.

Local leaders also appealed for urgent installation of proper walkways and protective barriers along the drainage to prevent further tragedies, warning that many children still pass through the area daily.