A devastating fire claimed the lives of six family members, including Tijani Kabiru, a Customs officer with the Oyo/Osun Command, his wife, and four children, in the early hours of Monday in the Olowopoku area of Ede, Osun State.
The fire, which is believed to have started around 2:00 a.m., is suspected to have been caused by an electrical spark from a solar panel installed on the roof of the building.
According to a source close to the family, a 13-year-old child, who was awake reading at the time, noticed the smoke and realized his family members were trapped. Despite his efforts to escape and raise the alarm, the house’s security features, including electric barbed wires and fortified doors, made rescue attempts difficult.
Fire service personnel were alerted around 3:10 a.m., but by the time they arrived, the fire had already claimed the lives of the family.
The lone survivor, the 13-year-old boy, is currently being cared for and is said to be in shock from the traumatic incident.
The Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Fire Service, Adekunle Ibraheem, confirmed the tragedy and stated that the victims’ bodies have been handed over to the A’ Division of the Nigeria Police Force for further action.
