A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Monday as a raging fire consumed the lives of a Customs officer, his wife, and their four children in the Akankan area of Ede, Osun State.
The inferno, which started around 3 a.m., completely engulfed the residence of the officer, Tijani Kabiru, who was attached to the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service. The victims included Kabiru, his wife, and their four children, aged between three and ten years.
In a statement issued by the Osun State Fire Service, Director Olaniyi Alimi confirmed the devastating incident. The Fire Service’s spokesperson, Ibraheem Adekunle, revealed that the blaze was reported at 3:21 a.m. through a distress call to their emergency line. Firefighters from the Ede Zonal Command were immediately deployed, with reinforcements from the Fire Service Headquarters in Abere. Despite their prompt response, the ferocity of the flames proved fatal.
The fire occurred on a road named after the deceased officer, Customs Tijani Kabiru Road, further intensifying the emotional toll on the local community. Kabiru, in his late 40s, and his wife, in her early 40s, perished alongside their children—three boys and one girl. A 13-year-old boy managed to escape the inferno, a miraculous survival amid the overwhelming tragedy.
Preliminary estimates indicate that property worth N200 million was lost in the fire, although quick action by the fire service reportedly saved assets valued at N500 million. Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the blaze.
The entire community has been thrown into mourning, with residents and colleagues expressing shock and grief over the untimely demise of the family. The tragic loss underscores the critical need for enhanced fire safety awareness and preventive measures to avert such devastating occurrences in the future.
