By admin Nov, 10, 2021 Private

Officials in Southern Niger confirmed that 26 children died in a fire outbreak at a school in Niger and 13 others were injured.

"Right now, we have 26 dead and 13 injured, four of them seriously," said Chaibou Aboubacar, mayor of Maradi city.

Niger is a very poor country and most of their schools are constructed with woods, bamboo, and sometimes straws.

The country has announced three days of mourning in the Maradi region starting Tuesday. In April 2021, twenty children were burnt to death in a school fire in a working-class district of Niamey.

"This tragic event once again puts the Nigerien people in mourning," the government said in a statement and added that straw and wood classrooms would henceforth be banned across the country.

Issoufou Arzika, secretary-general of the Niger Teachers' Union, told AFP that Monday's fire had "decimated" the school in Maradi.

Arzika said his union had alerted officials to the danger of the straw and wood classrooms after the Niamey fire.

"It is better to hold classes under trees than in straw huts, which have become flammable graves for pupils," he said.

Tags: Niger Africa Crime Nigeria

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