A section of the palace belonging to Muhammadu Sanusi, the 16th Emir of Kano, was engulfed in flames at Gidan Rumfa on Friday night around 11 p.m., raising concerns about the security and preservation of the historic site.
According to insiders from the palace, intruders forcibly entered through a door, started a fire, and then closed the door, resulting in significant damage to the throne, air conditioning units, and other valuable items.
Despite the severity of the incident, the Kano State Fire Service reported that they were not alerted as no calls were made to their stations.
Munir Sanusi Bayero, the Emir’s Chief of Staff, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday morning, July 13, 2024.
“On Saturday morning, July 13, 2024, a fire broke out in the outer court of the Palace, Kofar Kudu. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the damage was contained,” Bayero stated.
He mentioned that steps are being taken by the palace administration to ensure the safety and security of the occupants and to investigate 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 measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” he emphasized.
The affected part of the palace, located in Kofar Kudu, is where the Emir traditionally holds court sessions every Monday. The incident disrupted normal operations and underscored the necessity for enhanced security measures.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the fire to come forward as the investigation progresses.
