A fire broke out in a section of the historic palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, at Gidan Rumfa, on Saturday July 13.
This incident has sparked concerns about the security and safety of the palace.
Sources within the palace reported that the perpetrators forced open a door, set the fire, and locked it, resulting in significant damage to the throne, air conditioners, and other valuables.
Despite the gravity of the incident, the Kano State Fire Service was not alerted, as no calls were received at their centres. However, the Chief of Staff to the Emir, Munir Sanusi Bayero, confirmed the incident in a statement.
“A fire incident occurred at the outer court of the Palace, Kofar Kudu, on Saturday morning, July 13, 2024. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the damage was minimal,” Bayero said.
He added that the palace administration is taking measures to ensure the safety and security of its occupants and is investigating the cause of the fire to prevent future incidents.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of everyone in the palace and will take all necessary steps to prevent such occurrences in the future,” he assured.
The affected section of the palace, located at Kofar Kudu, is where the Emir holds court every Monday. The incident has disrupted regular activities and highlighted the need for enhanced security measures. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the fire to come forward as investigations continue.