Tragic Fire Claims Lives of Kano State Commissioner’s Family Members

Kano, Nigeria — A devastating fire early Wednesday morning claimed the lives of three family members of Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata, the Kano State Commissioner for Higher Education. The incident occurred at his residence in Kofar-Mata quarters in Kano metropolis.

The blaze, which broke out while the family was asleep, resulted in the deaths of Dr. Kofar-Mata’s daughter, Maimuna, his elder sister, Khadija, and another close relative, Juwairiyya. The commissioner narrowly escaped the fire himself.

According to the State Fire Service spokesperson, Abdullahi Saminu, the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire are yet to be determined.

In a brief statement on his verified social media handle, Dr. Kofar-Mata expressed profound sorrow: “Unto Allah, we came and to him we shall return.” He mourned the tragic loss of his family members, stating, “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.”

The funeral prayers for the deceased were conducted at 11 a.m. at Kofar-Mata quarters, Kano City.