There are concerns in and out of Kano that the coronavirus pandemic may have been responsible for too many deaths of illustrious sons in the last 24 hours.

Confirmation of this is for now impossible as the COVID-19 Testing Centre shut on Wednesday is yet to resume.

But there is palpable concern at the rate people have been dying.No fewer than 13 people reportedly died in 24 hours.

Mere coincidence? No one is sure anymore.

Economic icon, Prof. Ibrahim Ayagi was among those who died.

He was 80 years-old and had been ill for sometime. He was the former Managing Director (MD) of the Defunct Continental Merchant Bank.

Aliyu Abdullahi Umar Dikko, professor of physiology has also died.

So was the Regional Manager of First Bank in Kano, Abdullahi Lawal. His own case was linked with COVID-19, based on the symptoms he had before his death.

Mallam Musa Ahmad Tijjani, ex-Editor of Leadership Sunday and Triumph newspapers has also died.

The other high-profile personalities include, Alhaji Garba Sarki Fagge, Alh. Adam Iliyasu Dal, a former Chairman of the Kano State Civil Service Commission; Nasiru Maikano Bichi, secretary students affairs of North Western University.

Others are Dr. Musa Umar Gwarzo; and Ustaz Dahiru Rabiu, who is a former Grand Khadi of Kano State and Captain Abdullahi Gyadi Gyadi.

There were also women: Hajia Shamsiyya Mustapha and Hajiya Nene Umma.

They all died between Friday, 24 April and Saturday, 25 April reports PRNigeria.

Ayagi:

The late Prof. Ayagi was a Commissioner for Economic Development in the State from 1975-1978, just as he was also a former Director-General of Kano Foundation from 1987-1990. Ayagi, who is also the proprietor of Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo College in Kano, died on Saturday, after a protracted illness at the age 80.

Aliyu Umar Dikko

Prof. Aliyu Umar Dikko was former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) at the Bayero University Kano (BUK). He was involved in the opening of three faculties of Medicine / Basic Medical Sciences in Bayero University, Kaduna State University and Yusuf Maitama Sule University.

Abdullahi Lawal:

The First Bank Regional Manager in Kano, died from a suspected case of COVID-19.

Family sources said immediately the banker took ill, he was first put on admission at a private clinic from where he was referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

He suffered high fever, intermittent cough, and respiratory hiccups and did not receive adequate medical care, before he gave up the ghost.

In an audio recording, the mother-in-law to the banker alleged that the negligence of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Kano, led to the death of her son-in-law, as she cried out that her daughter and grandchildren be taken in for tests to confirm if they have contracted the dreaded COVID-19.

PM News