- Community in shock as fire devastates family home
Segun Atanda/
A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in the early hours of today as a raging fire consumed the home of Tijani Kabiru, a Customs officer with the Oyo/Osun Command, killing him, his wife, and four of their young children in the Akankan area of Ede, Osun State.
The devastating blaze, which struck around midnight, has plunged the community into mourning, leaving neighbours grappling with grief and disbelief.
Witnesses described the scene as harrowing. “I can’t say when it started, but we noticed smoke around 3am,” recalled a neighbour, Kola, his voice heavy with sorrow. “By the time we realised the scale of the fire, it was too late to save them.”
The Osun State Fire Service confirmed the incident through a statement signed by its Director, Mr. Olaniyi Alimi.
Spokesperson, Ibraheem Adekunle, revealed that a distress call was received at 3.21am, prompting the deployment of fire teams from Ede and Abere.
Despite their efforts, the inferno claimed the lives of Kabiru, believed to be in his late 40s, his wife in her early 40s, and their four children—three boys and a girl—aged between 3 and 10.
The family’s residence, located on a street ironically named after the late Customs officer, suffered significant damage, with losses estimated at ₦200 million.
However, properties worth ₦500 million were reportedly salvaged.
Amid the tragedy, a glimmer of hope emerged as the family’s 13-year-old son miraculously escaped the blaze, becoming the sole survivor of the horrifying incident.
The remains of the deceased were handed over to police officers from the ‘A’ Division of the Police, while the entire community continues to grapple with the enormity of the loss.
0