Fire outbreak has damaged a section of the Gidan Rumfa palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The incident occurred around 11 pm on Friday night and was allegedly set by unidentified persons.
A source told Daily Trust that the palace located at Kofar Kudu, where the Emir sits every Monday for the court, was seriously affected by the fire.
“The throne, air conditioners, and other valuables were destroyed in the inferno,” the source said.
“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 what was suspected was that they broke in, set the fire and locked the door.”
Confirming the incident, the Chief of Staff to the Emir, Munir Sanusi Bayero, said in a statement, “It is hereby notified that on Saturday, July 13, 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.”
Interestingly, the Kano State Fire Service claimed they were not informed about the incident, as they didn’t receive any calls at their centres.