15:T759,

Eight members of the family of a former Minister of State for Education, Hajiya Binta Ibrahim Musa, were killed in an early morning inferno that engulfed their residence in Garki area of Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

The former minister, who was said to have been wounded during the incident, is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital within the city.

Those who died in the inferno which was said to have engulfed their residence around 1.30am, include the former minister’s two female children, Zainab Ibrahim Musa, Mariam Ibrahim Musa.

The others claimed by the fire are her grand children Umar Galadima, Mohammed Galadima, Zara Abdullahi, Aisha Mohammed, Abdulrahaman Yusuf Gambo, and Abdullahi Mohammed Malami.

Another member of the family who escaped death in the inferno is Fati, another daughter of Hajiya Binta who is also currently receiving treatment, alongside the former minister.

According to fire fighters, upon reaching the home in Garki, Area 8, they found out that the eight deceased had already lost their lives.

The eight children were laid to rest at the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja after the usual Islamic rites and a funeral prayer at the National Mosque in Abuja.

Present at the funeral led by the Deputy Chief Imam of the mosque, Mallam Muhammad Kabir, were Borno state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, Minister Designate, Hon. Mohammed Wakil, and former Minister of Interior, Dr. Shettima Mustapha.

All the deceased and the survivors belong to the family of the late Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Marte.

His wife, Hajiya Binta, who is being hospitalized, served as minister under Professor Fabian Osuji during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

•Credit (except headline): Peoples Daily. Photo shows scene-of-the-incident.

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