Two siblings, Zainab Bashir Muhammad (Hibba) and Ummu Salma Bashir, aged 7 and 5, have been confirmed dead in a fire outbreak that occurred in the Madina Quarter of Bauchi.

The unfortunate incident occurred at a house close to Barden Gabas Primary School adjacent to Tirwun quarters, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis around 11:00am on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

It was gathered that the incident occurred after the mother of the two deceased children locked them in the house and went for errands.

“When we noticed the fire from the house, myself and some neighbours rushed to the house, but our efforts to forcefully open the gate into the house proved abortive,” a witness narrated.

“In the process, we were able to get rid of the door with the use of some carpentry tools and gained entry into the house, but that was when the fire overpowered the room where the two children were sheltered.

“When we entered the house, we tried to force open the room where the children were staying, it was a real fire with heavy dark smoke, making it difficult for us to gain entry.”

Another neighbour to the inferno, Usman Abdullahi (Dan Usmanu) said that "This thing is already destined by God, but it was not the habit of the bereaved mother to lock -up the children and go on errands. Most of the time, whenever she was going out, she used to drop the children in my house, because our houses are close to each other.

"Her husband, Bashir Muhammad was not at home when the incident occurred. Up to this time I am talking to you, we don’t know the actual cause of the fire incident.”

Men of the state fire service have tried their best to fight the fire to stop it from spreading to the surrounding houses and structures considering that it is dry season.

Meanwhile, the children have been buried according to Islamic rites.