Fire at an Islamic School in Nigeria: 17 Children Perish

Tragic Fire Claims Lives of 17 Children in Northern Nigeria

A devastating fire has claimed the lives of at least 17 children and left another 17 seriously injured in the dormitory of an informal Islamic school in Kaura Namoda, located in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria. The incident occurred overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to local authorities.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, although Zamfara Police reported that officers discovered and evacuated 17 lifeless bodies from the school premises. The school’s director indicated that approximately 100 students, aged between 10 and 16, were sleeping in the dormitory when the blaze broke out around midnight.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences in a statement, offering support to the victims’ families, as well as to the Zamfara State government and the school owners.

Informal Islamic schools are common in northern Nigeria, where the population is predominantly Muslim. Despite multiple efforts by authorities to reform this educational system, they have faced significant resistance from certain religious leaders.