Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has described the death of a customs officer and his family in an inferno on Sunday in Ede as a painful loss.
A fire outbreak at the resident of the customs officer, SC Kabiru Tijani, claimed his life, his wife and four children.
Adeleke in a condolence message through his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Olawale Rasheed, on Tuesday, expressed the heartfelt sympathy of the state government and the people of Osun to the loved ones of the deceased.
The governor also condoled with the Nigeria Customs Service, colleagues and associates of the deceased.
He advised residents in the state to always be alert to their environments and handle with care inflammable materials that could cause fire this dry season.
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The governor also urged proper management of electrical appliances in order to avoid outbreak of fire.
He also tasked emergency management agencies on prompt response to distress calls in communities and towns across the state.
“I am distraught to hear about the terrible fire incident that resulted in the death of SC Kabiru Tijani, his wife, and three children, at his residence in Ede, Osun state.
“It is really painful for me, and I want to use this avenue to commiserate with the family of the deceased and the Nigeria Customs.
“It is my prayer that God Almighty repose their souls and give their loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss occasioned by their deaths.” the statement reads.
A statement by the Osun State Fire Service signed by the Director of the Service, Olaniyi Alimi, indicated that the service received the distress call at 3:21a.m.
“Our team from Ede Zonal Command proceeded to the scene, with a backup team joining from the Fire Service Headquarters in Abere.
“The address of the fire incident was Tijani Kabiru Road, Akankan Area, Ede North LG.
“The street was named after the deceased, who was a Customs officer from the Oyo/Osun Command.
“Tijani and his wife, reported to be in their late 40s, lost their lives alongside four of their children—three boys and a girl—aged between three and 10 years.
“A lone survivor, a 13-year-old boy, miraculously escaped the fire outbreak,” Alimi said.
NAN