CUSTOMS OFFICER, WIFE, FOUR CHILDREN DIE IN OSUN MIDNIGHT FIRE

Read Time:1 Minute, 46 Second

Tijani Kabiru, a Customs officer with the Oyo/Osun Command, was killed together with his wife and four of their children in the Akankan Area of Ede, Osun State, early on Monday morning when a terrible fire destroyed their home.

People in the community are shocked and in sadness after the midnight fire.

Residents were shocked and incredulous when they woke up to the devastating news of the family’s death.

Kola, a neighbor who saw the terrible incident, remembered, “We saw smoke there at around three in the morning, but I can’t say when the fire started.

“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.”

According to Kola, firefighters from the Ede Fire Station were promptly contacted after smoke was detected.

However, by the time they arrived, the fire had already consumed much of the house.

Ibraheem Adekunle, the Osun State Fire Service’s spokeswoman, confirmed the event and provided a statement written by Mr. Olaniyi Alimi, the Service’s director.

According to the statement, “At 3:21 a.m., we received a distress call to our emergency number 08030808254 informing us of the event. Together with a backup crew from the Fire Service Headquarters in Abere, our team from Ede Zonal Command headed to the incident.

“The address of the fire incident is Customs Tijani Kabiru Road, Akankan Area, Ede North LG. The street was named after the deceased, who was a Customs officer from the Oyo/Osun Command.

“Mr. Tijani Kabiru, reported to be in his late 40s, and his wife, said to be in her early 40s, lost their lives alongside four of their children—three boys and a girl—aged between three nd 10 years. The estimated loss from the inferno is around N200 million, while property worth N500 million was saved.”

Amazingly, the 13-year-old boy who was the only survivor managed to flee the fire.

Officers from the Nigeria Police Force’s A’ Division received the deceased’s remains.