A mother and her six daughters were on Tuesday night burnt to death in a fire outbreak, which engulfed their home at Rafukka quarters in Katsina.
The Malam Bashir Rafukka, the husband of the woman and father to the six daughters, said in Katsina on Wednesday that the fire occurred at about 9.20 p.m. on Tuesday night.
Rafukka said that the victims were his wife, Hauwa Bashir and his children, Fati Bashi, 9, Nazifa Bashi, 7, Maryam Bashir, 5, Yasira Bashir, 5, Atika Bashir, 4 and Firdausi Bashir, 1.
He said that the incident happened a few minute after he took a stroll to visit a friend in the area.
Rafukka, who described the incident as unfortunate, said the fire was caused by the bush lamp being used as a source of illumination that fell and ignited things in the house.
The entire room subsequently caught fire, trapping Hauwa and the children.
Hauwa and five of the children died instantly, while the sixth child died on the way to the hospital.
The fire, which also destroyed property worth thousands of Naira, lasted for more than one hour before it was extinguished through the combined effort of the state fire service men and neighbours.
Correspondent, who was at the funeral prayers for the deceased reports that thousands of sympathisers attended the prayer which was led by the Chief Imam of Katsina, Alhaji Liman Lawal.
They were buried according to the Islamic rites at the Dantakun Grave Yard in Katsina around 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, has paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family to condole with them and the entire people of the area.
The emir, who expressed shock over the incident, prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for their relations to have the courage to bear the loss.