In the stillness of the early hours on Monday, a devastating tragedy shattered the peace of the Akankan Area in Ede, Osun State.
A raging inferno engulfed the home of Tijani Kabiru, a Customs officer attached to the Oyo/Osun Command, claiming his life, that of his wife, and four of their children.
The calamity has plunged the community into deep mourning.
Residents awoke to a grim reality, their hearts gripped by the weight of the tragedy.
Panic and disbelief swept through the neighborhood as news of the catastrophic event spread.
Kola, a neighbor who witnessed the horrifying scene, recounted, “I can’t say when the fire started, but we observed smoke there at about 3am. The response time of the firemen was not bad, but the house had been badly affected before the fire could be subdued. Kabiru, his wife, and four children were already burnt to death. But one of the children escaped.”
The alarm was raised immediately after smoke was noticed, and firefighters from the Ede Fire Station rushed to the scene. Despite their swift arrival, the flames had already consumed most of the residence.
Confirming the harrowing incident, Ibraheem Adekunle, spokesperson for the Osun State Fire Service, shared a statement signed by the Service’s Director, Mr. Olaniyi Alimi.
The statement read, “We were informed of the incident via a distress call to our emergency number 08030808254 at 3:21 a.m. Our team from Ede Zonal Command proceeded to the scene, with a backup team joining from the Fire Service Headquarters in Abere.
“The address of the fire incident is Customs Tijani Kabiru Road, Akankan Area, Ede North LG. The street was named after the deceased, who was a Customs officer from the Oyo/Osun Command.
“Mr. Tijani Kabiru, reported to be in his late 40s, and his wife, said to be in her early 40s, lost their lives alongside four of their children three boys and a girl aged between three and 10 years. The estimated loss from the inferno is around N200 million, while property worth N500 million was saved.”
Amid the devastation, a glimmer of hope emerged a 13-year-old boy, the lone survivor, miraculously escaped the blaze.
The charred remains of the victims were handed over to officers from the A’ Division of the Nigeria Police Force, adding a solemn conclusion to the heart-wrenching tale of loss and resilience.