How 17 children died, 16 injured in Zamfara school fire

Facts have emerged as to how a fire outbreak killed 17 school pupils and injured 16 others in Tudunwada area of Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The tragedy struck a few hours after the pupils of Makarantar Malam Ghali Qur’anic School (Tsangaya), closed for the night session and retired to bed. The deceased, […]

Facts have emerged as to how a fire outbreak killed 17 school pupils and injured 16 others in Tudunwada area of Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The tragedy struck a few hours after the pupils of Makarantar Malam Ghali Qur’anic School (Tsangaya), closed for the night session and retired to bed.

The deceased, Daily Trust gathered, were burnt beyond recognition.

Confirming the incident to Daily Trust via telephone, the Ward Head of Dan-Isa Village, Malam Hassan Isa, said the fire was from some burnt-sticks at the local school, where the almajirai usually gather for Qur’anic recitation in the night.

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Daily Trust reports that the culture of pupils setting bonfires which they use as a source of light to read at night or to get warm is common in most of the tsangaya schools especially in rural areas in the North.

Explaining how the tragedy happened, ward head Hassan Isa said: “We learnt that the fire sparked from leftover of sticks which the almajirai used for the purpose of warming their bodies during the night hours Qur’anic recitation. It is unfortunate that after the night session, the pupils did not properly put out the fire; hence, it sparked and escalated to a room where the children were sleeping.

“The fire engulfed the entire room, thereby killing 17 pupils and injuring 16 others. The dead victims were burnt beyond recognition, while the others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“I personally saw 15 corpses and 12 injured pupils. I was also told that some had already been taken to the graveyard for burial, when I got there, while the injured had been admitted at the Kaura-Namoda General Hospital for medical treatment.

“The school is situated not far from the emir’s palace. It is a tragedy and we have considered it as destiny. There is nothing one can do to stop what Allah has destined,” he said.

Also confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Dauda Lawal on Broadcast Media, Alhaji Mustapha Kaura, said the incident shook Zamfara State, noting that the governor had dispatched a delegation led by the Chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area, Alhaji Munnir Mu’azu Haidara, to assess the situation.

Kaura added that the government also directed the local government to shoulder the medical bills of the injured pupils.

“In the meantime, the government will continue to take care of the injured pupils and when the report of the assessment is out, the government will see where it can come in to assist the affected families. The tragedy shook Governor Lawal and members of his cabinet. He sympathised with families of the victims of the incident.

“It is unfortunate that the fire outbreak happened in the night when many residents had retired to bed. You know it happened in the night and coupled with the fear of banditry, many residents could not come to the rescue of the victims because they may have thought that the fire was as a result of banditry attack,” he said.

 

I lost some brilliant students – Teacher

The assistant teacher in the school, Malam Aliyu Abubakar Khalifa, said, “The fire, which began around 12:00 am on Wednesday, was caused by burning corn stalks. It destroyed a hall and the shelter attached to it, where the pupils were sleeping.

“At the first instance, we put out the fire and sent the pupils back to the hall to sleep, but around 2:00 am, I heard students screaming, ‘fire, fire!’, then I rushed out, only to find about 30 pupils on the ground, struggling to escape from the fire. Those who lost their lives were aged between 10 and16 years.

“You know the nature of our environment; we have a heap of corn-stalks around the school, so when the fire sparked, it caught the sticks and escalated to the room where the students were sleeping. Some of the students shouted for help. My neighbors and I tried our best to rescue the pupils, but in the end we lost 17 of them while 16 others sustained injuries. We have never experienced this type of tragedy since the establishment of the school,” he said.

Also, speaking to Daily Trust, owner of the school, Malam Muhammad Ghali, said he had accepted the incident in good faith but added, “I lost some of my brilliant students to the inferno.

“I have already contacted some of the affected families because those who died in the tragedy came from various places. You know in our system of education, the boarding students usually come from outside the community where the school is located. Most of the affected pupils are from other places, some from other states.

“I have informed their families about the incident. Sadly, they were burnt beyond recognition. Although, neighbors assisted us in rescuing the children, some of them lost their lives. It was unfortunate but that’s the will of Allah.

“The local government chairman has visited the school and sympathised with us. He said he was here for the state government and that he would give the government a report on the incident. He promised that the government would rebuild the portion of the school that was destroyed by the fire.”

The Principal Superintendent at the Zamfara State Fire Service, Abdulmudallib Muhammad Galadi, said the incident was reported to the service at 2:25 am, but it could not respond immediately due to technical issues with their fire truck.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, who also confirmed the incident, said17 pupils died, while 17 others were currently receiving medical attention at the Kaura-Namoda General Hospital.

He added that investigation into the incident has commenced.

 

Tinubu mourns

President Bola Tinubu has sent condolences to parents, guardians, and families who lost loved ones in the fire outbreak in Zamfara State.

In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy,

Tinubu also commiserated with the state government and owners of the school and prayed for the quick recovery of those receiving medical attention.

“The President enjoins all public and private schools to prioritise children’s safety and security at all times and directs regulatory authorities in the education sector to ensure compliance with safety standards.

“The President prays that God Almighty will grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed and comfort to their loved ones,” the statement said.