A devastating fire at an Islamic school in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area, Zamfara State, has claimed the lives of 17 Almajiri students, leaving 16 others injured.
The inferno, which started late on Tuesday night, raged for about three hours while the children were asleep.
How the Fire Started
According to Abdulrasaq Bello Kaura, a local resident who spoke to Channels TV, the fire was triggered by stored sticks, locally known as kara.
“It happened at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, inside their study hall. There were about 100 students in the house. After evacuating some, they thought everyone was out. It was only after the fire died down that they started seeing burned limbs of those trapped inside,” Kaura recounted.
Casualties and Response
The 17 victims were buried on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
Confirming the incident, Kaura-Namoda Local Government Chairman, Comrade Mannir Muazu Haidara, and the Zamfara State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Yazid Abubakar, stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Other Recent Fire Incidents
This tragedy follows another fire outbreak on Saturday at Okaro Primary School, Urhonigbe, Orhionmwon, Benin, Edo State, where a block of classrooms was destroyed. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded as the incident occurred outside school hours.
The Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has since launched an investigation and a fact-finding mission to assess the extent of damage and determine necessary interventions.
Authorities continue to urge communities to prioritize fire safety measures to prevent further tragedies.
