In a devastating incident, a fire broke out late Tuesday night at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, an Islamic school in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 students and injuries to 16 others.

Eyewitnesses reported that the blaze ignited around midnight while the children were asleep, raging for approximately three hours before being subdued. The inferno is believed to have been caused by stored sticks, locally known as “kara,” which were kept inside the study hall.

The 17 deceased students have been laid to rest on Wednesday.