Kano: Mosquito coil razes family of four to death

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

A tragic fire outbreak in the early hours of Wednesday has killed a total of four members of the same family in the metropolis of Kano State.

Daily Sun reports that the tragic fire incident broke out in a building at Kundila Layin Baba Impossible, Tarauni LGA, in the state capital.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, listed the victims to include the father of the family, Shodandi (43); his wife Rafi’a (30); and their two young daughters, Mardiya Shodandi (3) and Yusira Shodandi (1½).

A 12-year-old boy, Aminu Shodandi, was, however, rescued alive from the fire, the statement disclosed.

The statement indicated that “the Emergency Response Unit (Control Room) received a call for emergency assistance from one of our staff, HFS Abba Datti,” at approximately 04:13, adding that their firefighters were immediately mobilised to the scene.

It noted that upon arrival, they found a ground-floor residential building measuring about 40 by 30 feet engulfed in flames.

The statement explained that the fire affected two bedrooms, a parlour, a toilet and a kitchen.

“Despite the swift response, four of the five occupants were found dead, having been trapped inside the burning structure.”

It pointed out that preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by a mosquito coil left burning in the parlour before the family went to sleep the night before.