A tragic fire outbreak in the Akankan Area of Ede, Osun State, claimed the lives of Tijani Kabiru, a Customs officer, his wife, and four of their children in the early hours of Monday. The devastating blaze, which left the community in deep mourning, broke out around 3 a.m.
A neighbor, Kola, who witnessed the horrific scene, recounted, “I can’t say when the fire started, but we observed smoke there at about 3 a.m. 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.”
The lone survivor, a 13-year-old boy, miraculously escaped the inferno, while the remains of the deceased family members were later handed over to the police.
The Osun State Fire Service promptly responded after receiving a distress call at 3:21 a.m. Despite their efforts, the flames had already consumed much of the house by the time they arrived.
Confirming the incident, Ibraheem Adekunle, spokesperson for the Osun State Fire Service, stated, “We were informed of the incident via a distress call. Our team from Ede Zonal Command proceeded to the scene, with a backup team from the Fire Service Headquarters in Abere. Unfortunately, six lives were lost, including Mr. Tijani Kabiru, his wife, and four of their children.”
The fire reportedly resulted in losses estimated at N200 million, although firefighters managed to save property worth N500 million.
Mr. Kabiru, a respected Customs officer attached to the Oyo/Osun Command, was in his late 40s, while his wife was in her early 40s. Their children who perished in the fire—three boys and a girl—were aged between 3 and 10 years.
The street where the incident occurred had been named after Mr. Kabiru in recognition of his service. Residents now mourn a man whose legacy was abruptly cut short.
