Zamfara fire outbreak: 17 dead, 17 injured — NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Sokoto Operations Office has received a report of a tragic fire incident that occurred in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State in the early hours of Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

According to sources who witnessed the outbreak, the school had about 100 people, mostly children, when the fire occurred.

Sadly, the fire claimed the lives of 17 individuals, while 17 others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by stored sticks, locally known as ‘Kara,’ which were gathered in the vicinity of the school.

In her remarks, NEMA Director General Mrs. Zubaida Umar offered her sympathies to the affected individuals and their families.

She also directed the NEMA Sokoto Operations Office to collaborate with the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other stakeholders to provide essential support and assistance to those affected by the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Issa Onilu, has requested a partnership with NEMA to enhance public awareness of the risks associated with tanker fires in Nigeria.

Mr. Issa Onilu, who led the NOA team on a working visit to NEMA’s headquarters in Abuja, commended the agency for its essential role in disaster management.

ALSO READ: Imo PCRC campaigns against crime in schools

He emphasized the urgent need to strengthen collaboration in public sensitization efforts, especially in light of the recent increase in tanker fire incidents across the country.

In response, the NEMA Director General commended the initiatives aimed at improving public awareness of tanker fire risks.

She noted that NEMA’s Coordination Forum, which includes NOA as an active participant, serves as a strategic platform for stakeholders to collaborate in achieving humanitarian objectives.

Mrs. Umar pledged NEMA’s commitment to working closely with NOA, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and the media to bolster public awareness and disaster preparedness across Nigeria.