On Sunday, two young girls lost their lives in a devastating fire that rocked Bauchi. The incident occurred at a residence near Barden Gabas Primary School in the Madina Quarter area.
Witnesses report that the fire broke out at approximately 11 a.m. after the mother of the children had momentarily left the house, unintentionally trapping them inside. Neighbors noticed the blaze and rushed to assist, but were unable to quickly breach the property due to a locked gate and door.
Ummu Salma Bashir, 5, and Zainab Bashir Muhammad, 7, were inside a room that was totally destroyed by flames when tools were used to gain entry. Their bodies were discovered during an attempt to rescue them from the raging inferno inside.
Usman Abdullahi, a neighbor, said the grieving mother rarely left the girls alone, pointing out that she usually sent them to his house before leaving the area. The girls’ father, Bashir Muhammad, was away at the time of the calamity.
Firefighters battled courageously to control the fire and prevent its spread, which was challenging due to heightened dry season conditions. The destroyed property was adjacent to dense residences.
Later, as the community grieved the untimely loss of their young lives, the victims were buried in accordance with Islamic customs. Inquiries seek to determine what caused the fire in order to keep such tragic events from happening in Bauchi again. With the bereaved family, condolences have poured in.
