A devastating fire early Monday morning in Osun State claimed the lives of Tijani Kabiru, a Customs officer, his wife, and their four children. The tragic incident, which occurred in the Akankan Area of Ede, has left the community in deep mourning and disbelief.
The fire broke out in the middle of the night, engulfing the family’s home. According to a neighbor, Kola, the first signs of the fire were noticed around 3 a.m. when thick smoke began to rise from the house.
“I can’t say exactly when the fire started, but by 3 a.m., we saw the smoke,” Kola recounted. “The fire department responded quickly, but the house was already too far gone by the time they arrived.”
Kola explained that despite the prompt response from firefighters, the fire had already spread extensively. By the time help arrived, the Kabiru family had tragically perished in the blaze.
“Mr. Kabiru, his wife, and their four children, three boys and a girl, were already burnt to death,” Kola said. “It was heartbreaking. The only survivor was one of the children, a 13-year-old boy, who miraculously managed to escape.”
The fire was reported to the Ede Fire Station at 3:21 a.m. following an emergency call. Firefighters from the Ede Zonal Command, with backup from the Fire Service Headquarters in Abere, rushed to the scene. However, despite their efforts, the fire had already caused severe damage.
Ibraheem Adekunle, the spokesperson for the Osun State Fire Service, confirmed the incident. In a statement, Adekunle said, “We were informed of the fire through a distress call at 3:21 a.m. Our team from the Ede Zonal Command was quickly deployed to the scene, and they were assisted by a backup team from the Fire Service Headquarters.”
According to Adekunle, the house, located on Tijani Kabiru Road in Akankan Area, was severely damaged, with an estimated loss of around N200 million. However, firefighters were able to save property worth N500 million from the flames.
The tragic fire occurred in the home of Tijani Kabiru, a Customs officer in his late 40s, and his wife, said to be in her early 40s. Their four children, aged between three and 10, also lost their lives in the blaze. The sole survivor, their 13-year-old son, was able to escape the inferno, though his family was unable to.
The fire service’s report further revealed that the street where the Kabiru family lived had been named after the late officer, in honor of his service. The community is now calling for better fire safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The remains of the deceased family members were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force’s A’ Division officers for further processing. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though authorities are conducting investigations to determine what led to the deadly blaze.
As the community reels from this immense loss, many are left wondering how such a tragedy could strike in the dead of night. For now, the Kabiru family’s neighbors and friends are left to grieve and remember the lives lost in the fire.
As the investigation continues, residents of Ede are calling for answers and hoping that this painful loss can serve as a wake-up call for greater awareness of fire safety in their community.
