At least 17 children lost their lives after a devastating fire engulfed an Islamic school in northern Nigeria, local officials have confirmed.

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The incident occurred in Kauran Namoda, a town in Zamfara State, on Tuesday night. Several other students sustained injuries and were rushed to medical facilities for urgent treatment.

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Authorities believe the fire originated from a nearby residential building before spreading to the school, where students aged between 10 and 16 were fast asleep.

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Emergency responders and local officials arrived at the scene, but the fire had already caused significant damage.

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Police spokesman Yazid Abubakar said the community laid the victims to rest on Wednesday afternoon.

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Eyewitness Yahaya Mahi recounted the challenges in accessing the scene, stating, “Even if the firefighters had come on time, reaching the house would’ve been difficult due to the tight road leading to the house.”

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In response to the tragedy, local authorities have pledged to inspect other Islamic schools to ensure safety measures are in place.

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“We’ll take measures to prevent another occurrence of this nature,” said local official Mannir Haidara.

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The father of one of the victims, speaking to BBC Hausa, expressed his devastation but found solace in his faith, saying he was relying on God’s will during this difficult time.

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Authorities estimate that around 100 students were in the school at the time of the fire, with many coming from surrounding villages in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara’s second-largest town.

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An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire while efforts continue to support the injured and affected families.

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