ABUJA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Five people, including four children, have been confirmed dead following an early Friday fire incident in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi, a local official said.

A mother and her three children, as well as another child in the bungalow, were killed in the blaze, according to local authorities.

Sani Dododo, head of the State Emergency Management Agency, told reporters that the fire was thought to be ignited by an electric heater.

Dododo said state authorities had launched an investigation to further determine the cause of the fire outbreak.