Residents of the Barbuma-Koriyel community in Yobe State have been plunged into grief following a fire outbreak that razed a residential building, claiming the lives of two siblings.
The victims, identified as eight-year-old Dauda Shuwa and six-year-old Fatima Shuwa, were trapped inside as the flames spread rapidly, leaving them no chance of escape despite frantic efforts by neighbors.
The incident occurred yesterday evening in the Barbuma-Koriyel community, located in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.
A resident said the fire started while a woman was cooking with firewood inside her house. The flames reportedly spread to nearby wooden structures and eventually consumed the entire building.
An eyewitness described the scene as devastating, saying all efforts by neighbors to rescue the children were in vain.
“The fire engulfed everything in minutes. Sadly, the children couldn’t make it out alive,” the resident recounted.
The victims were later evacuated to a nearby hospital, where they were confirmed dead by doctors.
Their bodies were subsequently released to their families for immediate burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Emergency responders and security operatives visited the site after the inferno, while officials urged residents to exercise greater caution with open flames, particularly in areas where houses are constructed with flammable materials.
