There was palpable tension as a fire outbreak, suspected to have been set by yet-to-be-identified persons, reportedly destroyed part of the Gidan Rumfa palace, where the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, resides.
According to sources from Daily Trust, the incident occurred on Friday night, around 11 PM, on July 12, 2024.
One of the sources stated that the palace located at Kofar Kudu, where the Emir holds court every Monday, was significantly affected.
“It was the palace at Kofar Kudu. You know the palace has an entrance from inside while the main entrance is from the front (outside). The key was forced open, and it is suspected that they broke in, set the fire, and locked the door. The throne, air conditioners, and other valuables in the palace have been destroyed,” the source said.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abudullahi, stated that the command was unaware of the incident as no call was received at any of the agency’s centers.
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However, the Chief of Staff to the Emir, Munir Sanusi Bayero, Dan Buram Kano, confirmed the incident in a statement.
“On Saturday morning, July 13, 2024, 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.
