Authorities have confirmed the death of a father, his son, and one other person in a pit latrine accident that happened on Sunday in the northern state of Kano.

Mallam Danjuma Bilack, 60, accidentally dropped his phone into the toilet while he was using it, according to Fire Service Spokesman Saminu Yusuf.

When he then went inside to retrieve the phone he "got stuck inside", then his son, 35-year-old Ibrahim Danjuma "got in to help his father and they both got stuck inside".

"A resident of the area Aminu T Gaye also went in to help the father and son but got stuck with them inside too," the first service spokesman adds.

Mr Yusuf said they got an emergency call but by the time they brought the three men out they were all unconscious, then were later confirmed dead by the hospital.

Millions of people across Nigeria still rely on pit latrines to defecate due to the lack of a proper excreta disposal system.