Agony As Parents Mourn Children Killed in Zamfara Fire Outbreak
Despite several calls placed to the fire service in the state, the school’s head teacher said they received no intervention, until fire consumed some of the children, burning them beyond recognition
Seventeen children were killed with 16 others badly injured after a midnight fire outbreak caused deaths and destruction in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, North West Nigeria. The fire accident happened on Feb. 5 around 12:45 a.m. at the Malam Na’ibi Gali Quranic School in Kaura-Namoda.
Aliyu Abubakar, the school’s headteacher, told HumAngle that the leftover of some burnt sticks at a gathering spot for Qur’anic recitation caused the unpleasant accident. He noted that he had inspected the pupils’ spaces and conducted the usual checks before he retired to his bed. A few minutes later, his wife knocked on his door to inform him about the fire outbreak.
“I was not able to sleep anymore wondering how this came to happen,” he recalled. “The moment was shocking and so strange indeed! Then another hard knock came again with roaring sounds in the chorus of helpless voices crying for help indicating more fire across all the pupils’ dormitory halls, shops, and open spaces where they sleep.”
Aliyu said despite several calls placed to the fire service in the state, the school received no intervention, until fire consumed 17 of the children, burning them beyond recognition.
Salah DanRabi, one of the parents of the victims killed during the fire outbreak, said he was shocked when he saw the bodies of his children razed by the fire.
“Five of my children were involved in the fire inferno. We confirmed that 2 died, 3 in severe injury with their skin burnt. The situation is worse. I can’t believe they could look this bad,” Salah said.
Sani Musa, a local journalist from the Kaura-Namoda town, also lost his youngest brother in the school.
“When I had eye-to-eye contact with him (the victim), I became teary. His black skin was wiped out and turned red, with his flesh soaked in blood which made me cry,” Sani said.
Bala Jata, the father of Husaini Bala, one of the victims from the Tunani community said angrily: “As I lost the only son I have to the fire outbreak, what else do you want me to say? Please leave me alone.”
Authorities react
Reacting to the ugly development, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, described the fire incident as highly unfortunate.
“On behalf of the Zamfara State Government, we extend our condolences to the families, the school, and the entire nation as we mourn the loss of these young souls,” Lawal said in a statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris. “During this time of sorrow, may the Almighty Allah provide strength and comfort to the grieving families as they navigate this difficult period. I extend my wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.”
While the governor promised to provide necessary support to the victims’ families, he added that authorities will examine the underlying causes of the fire outbreak and seek methods to prevent its recurrence in the future.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu commiserates with the state government and owners of the school.
Tinubu also directed regulatory authorities in the education sector to ensure strict compliance with safety standards in schools across the country, emphasising that the security and well-being of children must be a top priority.
A tragic fire outbreak occurred at the Malam Na’ibi Gali Quranic School in Zamfara State, Nigeria, on February 5, resulting in the deaths of 17 children and injuries to 16 others.
The fire was caused by leftover burnt sticks at a Qur'anic recitation site. Despite calls for assistance, the fire service did not intervene in time to prevent the tragedy from unfolding further, leading to devastating losses for the families of the victims.
Governor Dauda Lawal expressed condolences to the affected families and emphasized the importance of preventing such incidents in the future.
President Bola Tinubu also conveyed sympathy, stressing the need for strict adherence to safety standards in schools to prioritize the security and well-being of children.
Both leaders promised support and actions to avert future occurrences.
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