A tragic fire in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State has claimed the lives of 17 Almajiri (Qur’anic school pupils) and left 15 others critically injured.

The fire, which began around 2:00 AM on Wednesday, was caused by burning corn stalks, destroying the shelter where the Almajiri pupils were sleeping.

Malam Aliyu Abubakar Khalifa, the teacher of the pupils said the children are, aged between 10 to 16.

According to him the fire service was unable to respond promptly due to a malfunctioning firefighting truck,. However, police officers and local volunteers helped extinguish the flames and rescue some of the pupils.

Khalifa confirmed that out of the about 100 Almajiri in the hall, 17 lost their lives, while 16 others sustained various degrees of injuries.
Khalifa also revealed that the devastating loss is the will of Allah and must be accepted in good faith.

On their part Zamfara state police Command spoke person DSP Yazid Abubakar has confirmed the incident saying 17 were confirmed death other 17 are currently receiving medical attention, but the cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained, but according to him investigation is ongoing.

Kaura Namoda which is the second-largest city in Zamfara State, is known for its vibrant commercial activities and serves as a hub for people from different parts of the country. It is also home to Nigeria’s railway terminal.

This incident has left the community devastated as they mourn the loss of the young lives.