AT least 17 children have died in a devastating fire at an Islamic school in Kauran Namoda, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria. Several other pupils sustained injuries and were rushed to local health centres for treatment, according to BBC Hausa.
The fire, which broke out on Tuesday night, is believed to have started in a nearby house before spreading to the school dormitory, where the students—mainly teenagers—were asleep.
Local authorities and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene, but the fire had already caused significant casualties.
Challenges in emergency response
Eyewitness Yahaya Mahi told BBC Hausa that the location of the school made firefighting efforts difficult.
‘Even if the firefighters had come on time, reaching the house would’ve been difficult due to the tight road leading to the house,’ he said.
The lack of accessible roads in many rural areas of northern Nigeria has often hampered emergency response efforts, raising concerns over fire safety measures in Islamic boarding schools across the region.
Authorities vow to improve fire safety
Local official Mannir Haidara confirmed that other Islamic schools in the area would be inspected to prevent future tragedies.
‘We’ll take measures to prevent another occurrence of this nature,’ he said.
Fire incidents in boarding schools and Islamic learning centres (Tsangayas) are not uncommon in Nigeria, where poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and lack of fire safety regulations remain major concerns.
Families mourn as investigations begin
The father of one of the victims said that while he was devastated, his faith in God was helping him cope with the loss.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, as the community mourns the tragic loss of young lives.
