A devastating fire in the early hours of Monday claimed the lives of a Customs officer, Tijani Kabiru, his wife, and four of their children in the Akankan Area of Ede, Osun State.
The tragic incident has plunged the community into mourning, with neighbors and officials recounting the heartbreaking scene.
The inferno, which occurred around 3 a.m., destroyed much of Kabiru’s residence before firefighters could bring it under control. According to Kola, a neighbor, smoke was first noticed in the house before the fire engulfed the property.
Despite a swift response from the Osun State Fire Service, the blaze proved fatal, leaving only one survivor, a 13-year-old boy, who managed to escape.
The Osun State Fire Service, in a statement by its Director, Mr. Olaniyi Alimi, confirmed the incident and detailed the scope of the tragedy. The deceased, including Mr. Kabiru (in his late 40s), his wife (early 40s), and their children—three boys and a girl aged between 3 and 10—were trapped in the fire.
The estimated losses from the inferno are pegged at ₦200 million, while property worth ₦500 million was saved.
The residence, located on Customs Tijani Kabiru Road (named after the late officer), had become a symbol of the family’s legacy, making the tragedy even more poignant.
The remains of the deceased were handed over to officers from the Nigeria Police Force’s A’ Division.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, and investigations are expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Meanwhile, the community and colleagues of the late officer continue to mourn the irreparable loss.