Tragedy struck in Zamfara State as a devastating fire broke out early in the morning, destroying the apartment of a bride-to-be just a day before her wedding. The fire, which affected seven apartments, also impacted the home of a personnel from the Zamfara State Fire Service.
The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. on the morning of May 5, 2025, when residents heard screams and rushed to the scene. Witnesses described how the flames quickly spread, starting from the apartment of the oldest woman in the family, Hajiya, whose ceiling was believed to be the origin of the fire.
Mallam Dan Sokoto, a witness, shared that efforts to douse the flames were unsuccessful, as the fire continued to escalate despite water being thrown on it. “It was as if we were adding fuel to the fire,” Sokoto explained.
The elderly woman, who was the first to notice the fire, said she heard a loud explosion coming from her ceiling before the flames erupted. “I can’t tell what caused it, but it started in the ceiling,” she said.
Neighbours immediately alerted the Zamfara State Fire Service, but their response was delayed. The fire trucks, which had been repaired recently, malfunctioned, and it took over an hour to fix the issues before firefighters could begin their work.
Despite the delayed response, the fire destroyed seven apartments, including that of a state fire service personnel. The bride, who had just moved her belongings into the apartment with the help of her family, was devastated by the destruction. “We had just arranged everything for the wedding, and now it’s all gone,” she said
Zamfara State Fire Service Executive Secretary, Bello Sani, confirmed that although the personnel arrived promptly, technical difficulties with the fire trucks hindered their immediate response. However, he assured that the government has recently revived fire stations in key areas like Kaura Namoda and Talata Marafa, which previously lacked operational fire trucks.
