Fatal Fire Engulfs Customs Officer’s Home, Claiming Lives of Five Family Members
Tragedy struck a family in the Akankan area of Ede, Osun State, when a devastating fire swept through the residence of Customs officer Tijani Kabiru, attached to the Oyo/Osun Command, killing him, his wife, and four of their children. The shocking incident has plunged the community into mourning.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Monday, sent smoke billowing into the air, leaving residents in a state of panic and disbelief. According to eyewitness Kola, who spoke with Punch, firefighters from the Ede Fire Station were called to the scene, but the house was already severely damaged by the time they arrived.
“It’s unclear exactly when the fire started, but we noticed smoke coming from the residence around 3am,” Kola recalled. “The firemen’s response time was reasonable, but unfortunately, the house had already suffered significant damage. By the time they were able to bring the blaze under control, it was too late. The Kabiru family – Tijani, his wife, and four of their children – had already perished in the inferno. Miraculously, one of their children, a 13-year-old boy, managed to escape with his life.”
The Osun State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement, stressing that the only survivor, the 13-year-old boy, somehow managed to escape the flames. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to officers from the A’Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the statement, the fire was reported to the emergency services at 3:21 am via a distress call to the 08030808254 number. A team from the Ede Zonal Command was deployed, with a backup unit joining from the Fire Service Headquarters in Abere.
The fire, located on Customs Tijani Kabiru Road, Akankan Area, Ede North LG, was a devastating blow to the family. Tijani Kabiru, reportedly in his late 40s, and his wife, in her early 40s, lost their lives along with their four children, aged between three and 10 years. The estimated loss from the tragedy is put at N200 million, with property worth N500 million salvaged.
