2nd December 2024
A midnight inferno that killed a father, mother and four children leaving a 13 year old survivor who miraculously escaped at Akankan Area of Ede, Osun State has left the community in shock and mourning.
The devastating fire in the early hours of Monday, engulfed the residence of a Customs officer, Tijani Kabiru, attached to the Oyo/Osun Command, killing him, his wife, and four of their children.
Residents woke to the heartbreaking news of the family’s demise in disbelief.
According to a neighbour, Kola, who witnessed the tragic event, said, “I can’t say when the fire started, but we observed smoke there at about 3am.
He explained that, “The response time of the firemen was not bad, but the house had been badly affected before the fire could be subdued. Kabiru, his wife, and four children were already burnt to death. But one of the children escaped.”
Kola, further stated that firefighters from the Ede Fire Station were promptly contacted after smoke was detected, but before they arrived, the fire had already consumed much of the house.
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Spokesperson for the Osun State Fire Service, Ibraheem Adekunle, who confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Director of the Service, Mr Olaniyi Alimi, “We were informed of the incident via a distress call to our emergency number at 3:21 a.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 is Customs 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.
“Mr. Tijani Kabiru, reported to be in his late 40s, and his wife, said to be in her early 40s, lost their lives alongside four of their children—three boys and a girl—aged between three nd 10 years. The estimated loss from the inferno is around N200 million, while property worth N500 million was saved.”
The lone survivor, a 13-year-old boy, miraculously escaped the blaze.
The remains of the deceased were handed over to officers from the A’ Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
