The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the death of 17 pupils and 15 others injured of the Tsangaya school (Islamic school children) in a night fire incident in Zamfara State in northern Nigeria.
The state Commissioner for Police, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, said that the fire broke out around 2:00 AM on Wednesday due to burning corn stalks, engulfing the shelter where the pupils were asleep.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has conveyed his condolences in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
In the message titled, ‘President Tinubu mourns Zamfara Islamic School pupils, the Nigerian leader says that safety should be uppermost to proprietors of schools.
“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 statement read: “President Tinubu commiserates with the state government and owners of the school and prays 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.”
According to the report by Punch newspaper on Thursday, the teacher in charge of the Almajiris, Malam Aliyu Abubakar Khalifa, said that the fire started past midnight but was quenched by the people of the area.
“I suddenly heard shouts of ‘fire, fire!’ and rushed outside to find about 30 pupils struggling to escape.
“All efforts by the firefighters to control the fire proved abortive because they had no functional equipment,” said Khalifa.
According to the teacher, the local volunteers and police officers worked together to contain the blaze and rescued some of the affected pupils.
He explained that out of about 100 Almajiri pupils in the hall, 17 were burnt to ashes, while 15 others sustained injuries.
“It is a great loss, but we accept it as the will of Allah,” he added.
GIK/APA