Kano, Nigeria – A fire outbreak believed to be caused by yet-to-be-identified persons has reportedly destroyed a section of the Gidan Rumfa palace, where the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, resides. The incident occurred late Friday night around 11 pm.
Sources from the palace informed Daily Trust that the fire severely damaged one of the palaces located at Kofar Kudu, where the Emir holds court every Monday.
“It was the palace at Kofar Kudu. The palace has an entrance from inside while the main entrance is from the front (outside). The key was forced open, and what is suspected is that they broke in, set the fire, and locked the door,” a source revealed. “The throne, air conditioners, and other valuables in the palace have been destroyed.”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abudullahi, stated that the command was not aware of the incident, as there was no call regarding it at any of the agency’s centers.
However, Munir Sanusi Bayero, Dan Buram Kano, the Chief of Staff to the Emir, confirmed the incident in a statement.
“On Saturday, 13th July, 2024 morning, a fire incident occurred at the outer court of His Highness’s Palace, Kofar Kudu. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the damage was minimal. The palace is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the palace and its occupants. We are also investigating the cause of the fire and taking steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future,” he said.
The incident has raised concerns about the security of the palace and the need for increased vigilance to prevent future occurrences.