A devastating fire at an Islamic school in northwestern Nigeria has claimed the lives of at least 17 children, with many others suffering injuries. The tragedy occurred on Wednesday in the Kaura Namoda district of Zamfara state, when the blaze broke out while approximately 100 children were at the school. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire, with preliminary findings pointing to a stockpile of “kara,” sticks used for oral hygiene, as a potential source of ignition.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the tragic loss, reporting that 17 children were killed and many others were seriously injured. These injured children are being treated at various hospitals across the region. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although early reports suggest that the stockpiled sticks near the school might have contributed to the blaze.
President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the grieving families, urging schools to prioritize safety measures to prevent such incidents from occurring again. While deadly school fires are not common in Nigeria, past incidents have highlighted the failure of the government to fully implement the Safe School Initiative, established in 2014 to protect educational institutions and their students.
The Nigerian leader has directed regulatory authorities to enforce safety regulations, ensuring that similar tragedies do not take place in the future.
The incident has prompted nationwide discussions on school safety, and efforts are being made to ensure that educational institutions are well-equipped to safeguard children against such disasters.
Sources By Agencies
