A first-year student of Saboba EP Senior High School in the Northern Region has tragically lost her life following a fire outbreak that engulfed the girls’ dormitory.
The deceased, identified as Binidan Theresah, was reportedly burnt beyond recognition after being trapped inside the dormitory during the fire. Her body was later recovered and has since been deposited at the Saboba Hospital.
According to eyewitness accounts from students, Theresah had been unwell and remained in the dormitory while others were away. It is alleged that the dormitory was locked to prevent anyone from noticing her presence inside. Unfortunately, when the fire broke out, she was unable to escape.
One student, speaking anonymously to Joy News, recounted that Theresah’s presence in the dormitory was overlooked during the commotion. Her body was only discovered after the fire had been extinguished.
The blaze destroyed students’ books, uniforms, and other personal belongings, adding to the devastation caused by the tragedy.
The District Fire Officer for Saboba, ADO 1 Yussif Issahaku, revealed in a media briefing that the response to the fire was hindered by technical challenges.
“This afternoon, we received a call reporting a fire outbreak at EP Secondary School. Our personnel arrived at the scene promptly, but unfortunately, the pump of the fire tender malfunctioned. Despite testing it successfully earlier in the day, it failed when it was needed most. We had no choice but to rely on buckets of water, with the assistance of students and staff, to extinguish the flames,” ADO 1 Issahaku stated.
He expressed regret over the loss of life and advised residents to take extra precautions during the dry season, as heightened temperatures often increase the risk of fire outbreaks.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
