Seven pupils died on Sunday night when a “mysterious” fire razed the Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS) at Jogana, Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The fire, according to an eyewitness, started at 8.10pm, when the pupils were preparing to go to bed.
A security man, who pleaded not to be named, said: “…The school was in darkness because there was no power supply. The pupils had taken their dinner and were preparing to retire to bed when we heard the girls screaming from Alhaji Sani Yaro Ahmed Hostel.
“We thought they were being attacked by rapists. But we saw thick smoke coming out of the hostel. As we rushed to the place, there was stampede: the pupils struggled to escape from the fire.”
It was learnt that the casualty figure was high because the pupils rushed through a narrow gate, which caused the stampede.
The eyewitness confided that the death of the seven pupils was as a result of a stampede that ensued when they were struggling to escape from the narrow gate of the hostel when the fire engulfed the hostel.
Our reporter, who visited the school yesterday, observed that the Alhaji Sani Yaro Ahmed Hostel, the largest of the 13 in the school, was reduced to rubble.
The eight apartments, housing over 200 pupils, was also razed.
The headteacher, Hajia Khadijat J. Gambo, was speechless.
When our reporter sought her comment on the incident, she said: “You can see it all. I am a sad woman. I have managed to file my reports to the appropriate authorities and I have been instructed not to speak.”
As at the time of filing this report, the school management had handed over the bodies of the dead to their parents.
Kano State Deputy Governor Hafiz Abubakar, who doubles as commissioner for Education, described the incident as mysterious.
He confirmed the death of the seven pupils, adding that the government would pay the bills of the injured, who are getting treatment at government hospitals.
Abubakar, who read the welcome address during the inauguration of State and Local Government Education Promotion Committees at the Coronation Hall of the Government House, told the gathering about the incident.
He said: “This event is holding because it has already been planned. There was a fire at the GGSS, Jogana. Seven girls died and 25 others were injured. We pray for the repose of their souls and quick recovery of the injured.”
The deputy governor said the incident occurred at 8:30pm on Sunday, adding: “…The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained; it remains mysterious.”
Police Commissioner Mohammed Musa Katsina also visited the school.
Addressing reporters on the incident, Katsina said: “You are aware it was a fatal fire, which led to the death of seven pupils. Many others were injured. I am moved and I stand in solidarity with the people of the state in this moment of grief. I console the state government, parents of these pupils and other people of Kano. May Allah give us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
It was learnt that the school, which was established 40 years ago, has experienced three “mysterious” fire incidents.
