Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, rescued about 140 schoolchildren after a fire broke out at Nooroh-Haq School in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday night.
The governor and members of his convoy were travelling along the road when he spotted smoke rising from the school premises. He immediately ordered his team to halt and personally oversaw the evacuation of the children to a safer location within the state capital.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Idris explained that he initially mistook the smoke for something else before realising the seriousness of the situation.
“We were just passing by when I saw smoke coming out of the area. At first, I thought it was smoke from burning tyres. But after taking a closer look, I realised it was a school, and we immediately stopped to supervise the evacuation of the pupils.
“We discovered that the school had over 140 pupils, and they were all evacuated to a safer place in the town. We also noticed that there were gas cylinders inside the school, which made it more difficult for the fire service to quench the inferno.”
Emergency responders worked to contain the blaze while the governor and his aides remained at the premises until the flames were fully extinguished. Idris and members of his team reportedly broke their fast at the scene after ensuring that the situation was under control.
The governor confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident, describing the successful evacuation as a major relief for families and the community.
He also directed the immediate formation of a high-powered committee to investigate the cause of the fire and determine the circumstances that led to the outbreak.
What you should know
Governor Nasir Idris personally supervised the evacuation of approximately 140 pupils after spotting a fire at Nooroh-Haq School in Birnin Kebbi.
The presence of gas cylinders inside the school reportedly complicated firefighting efforts, but all children were safely moved and no fatalities were recorded.
The Kebbi State Government has ordered a formal investigation to establish the cause of the blaze and prevent similar incidents in the future.
