Tragic fire outbreak in school claims 17 lives, injures 16

A devastating fire swept through an Islamiya school in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, claiming the lives of at least 17 Almajiri students and leaving 16 others injured.

The fire, which broke out late on Tuesday night, raged for nearly three hours, reducing parts of Makaranta Mallam Ghali to ashes.

Eyewitnesses say the inferno spread rapidly due to stored sticks, locally known as kara, which were being used for fuel.

Eyewitness Account: “They Were Burnt Beyond Recognition”

A resident, Abdulrasaq Bello Kaura, described the harrowing scene, stating that many of the victims were trapped inside the study hall where they slept.

“There were about 100 students in the school. After evacuating many of them, people initially believed no one was left inside. But after the fire subsided, they started seeing hands and legs – they were burnt beyond recognition,” he recounted.

The 17 deceased students were buried on Wednesday, in accordance with Islamic rites, while the 16 injured survivors are receiving medical attention at a local hospital.

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Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Government, Comrade Mannir Muazu Haidara, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He stated via telephone that he was en route to the scene and promised further updates once a full assessment had been conducted.

Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and to assess safety conditions in religious schools across the area.

The tragedy has sparked fresh concerns over the safety and welfare of students in Almajiri schools, which often operate in overcrowded and poorly maintained structures.

Community leaders and civil society groups are now urging the government to implement stricter fire safety regulations and improve emergency response systems in schools across the region.

As Zamfara State mourns the loss of these young students, calls for urgent reforms to prevent similar incidents continue to grow.