Tragedy has struck in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where a devastating fire at an Islamiya school has claimed the lives of at least 17 Almajiri students and left 16 others injured.
Eyewitnesses report that the fire broke out late Tuesday night at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, a study hall that housed approximately 100 students.
According to Abdulrasaq Bello Kaura, a local resident speaking to Channels Television, the blaze, which raged for about three hours, is believed to have been triggered by stored sticks locally known as “kara.”
“It happened at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, inside their study hall. There are about 100 of them in the house. After they evacuated the students, they thought none of them remained inside the house, but it was when they returned after the fire that they started seeing their legs, hands—they got burnt beyond recognition,” Kaura recounted.
Local authorities rushed to the scene, and the community has been left in deep sorrow as emergency responders attempted to salvage the situation.
The 17 students who lost their lives in the incident were laid to rest on Wednesday, marking a somber moment for the affected families and the wider community.
The Chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Government, Comrade Mannir Muazu Haidara, confirmed the incident during a telephone interview. “I was on my way to the scene, and while I am gathering more details, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims during this heart-wrenching time,” Haidara stated.
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This catastrophic event has sparked renewed calls for stringent safety measures in school facilities, particularly in institutions hosting vulnerable children.
Community leaders and state officials are expected to review protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the precise cause of the fire and have urged residents to come forward with any further information that could assist in the inquiry.