At least 17 students have been confirmed dead following a fire outbreak at an Almajiri school in Kaura-Namoda LGA of Zamfara state.
Almajiri refers to a system of Islamic education practised in northern Nigeria.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday night, and that the fire raged for about three hours before it was brought under control.
Abdulrasaq Kaura, a resident of the area, said the fire was ignited by some sticks locally called kara.
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“It happened at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, inside their study hall. There are about 100 of them in the house. After they evacuated the students, they thought none of them remained inside the house,” Kaura said.
“When they returned after the fire, they started seeing their legs, hands, they got burnt beyond recognition.”
Kaura added that the deceased students have been buried.
Local authorities and emergency responders have reportedly arrived the scene to provide assistance.
Yazid Abubakar, the police spokesperson in Zamfara, said that he was yet to verify the incident.
