Kano commissioner cheats death, family die in mysterious fire incident, details emerge

• Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata has been thrown into deep sorrow following the death of some of his family members
• The Kano State Commissioner for Higher Education narrowly escaped death on Wednesday but lost his daughter and two other family members to a fire outbreak
• The state's fire service spokesperson, Abdullahi Saminu, has reacted to the unfortunate incident

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

On Wednesday, July 17, Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata, the Kano state commissioner for higher education, lost three of his family members to a fire outbreak that gutted his residence at Kofar-Mata quarters in the ancient city.

Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata escaped death, but his daughter and two relatives died as a result of the fire outbreak. Photo credit: @Juliusbalaa
Source: Twitter

Fire outbreak: 3 die as Kano commissioner escapes death

The sad incident occurred in the wee hours on Wednesday while family members were said to be asleep.

As reported by The Punch, the commissioner narrowly escaped the disaster but lost his daughter, Maimuna, his elder sister Khadija and one Juwairiyya; also a close relative to the unfortunate incident.

The Nigerian Tribune reported that several valuables were destroyed in the fire, but no official report is available to ascertain yet.

Abdullahi Saminu, the State Fire Service spokesperson, confirmed the incident and disclosed that the level of damage and cause of the inferno could not be ascertained immediately, The Guardian reported.

In a short notice, the commissioner expressed deep grief, saying

”Unto Allah, we came and to him we shall return.”

He added:

“I mourn the loss of my daughter Maimuna (Islam), my senior sister, Hajiya Khadija, and my brother’s wife, Juwairiyya, who all perished in the fire accident this morning.“Their funeral prayers had been conducted at 11am at Kofar-Mata quarters, Kano City today.”

Kano Governor Yusuf react

In a post shared on his X page, Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reacted to the development. He expressed deep sadness over the death of the three members of the family of his commissioner.

Governor Yusuf tweeted:

"Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un"I am deeply saddened by the death of three members of the family of the Kano State Commissioner for Higher Education, Yusuf Kofar Mata, in a tragic inferno."The victims of the fire included his daughter Maimuna (Islam), his senior sister Hajiya Khadija and the wife of his brother, Hajiya Juwairiyya."May the Almighty Allah grant them Jannatul Firdaus. We stand in solidarity with Dr. Kofar Mata in this very difficult time for him and his family. - AKY

Fire guts Kano Emir Sanusi’s palace

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that some yet-to-be-identified persons reportedly set a section of Kano Emir Sanusi's palace on fire.

The fire outbreak reportedly occurred at the palace at the Gidan Rumfa and a source disclosed the throne, air conditioners, and other valuables were destroyed in the inferno.

The Chief of Staff to the Emir, Munir Sanusi Bayero, Dan Buram Kano, confirmed the incident via a statement and shared further details.

Source: Legit.ng