DAURA, Nigeria — A devastating fire outbreak at the palace of the Emir of Daura on Monday, July 17, 2023, caused severe destruction of property estimated to be worth millions of naira.
The incident, which began around 4 pm, persisted for several hours and decimated a section of the palace occupied by the Emir’s son, the Danburam of Daura, Alhaji MuhammaduDaha Umar Farouq Umar.
Umar, who also serves as the district head of Baure, suffered the brunt of the fire’s wrath with “a lot of valuable items,” including critical documents, obliterated by the blaze, according to palace sources.
The structural integrity of the building itself was not spared as it endured substantial damage from the inferno.
Fortunately, the palace confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident.
The housewife residing in the affected section, a daughter of the late emir Muhammad Bashar, was reported to be out of town during the fire.
“Nothing was taken out of the section that was not affected by the fire including the building structure. Fortunately, no one was inside the house,” a palace source revealed.
The Public Relations Officer of the emirate, Sarkin Labaru Usman Yaro, confirmed the incident.
Although the cause of the inferno remained undetermined at the time of reporting, speculation points towards an electrical malfunction as the potential culprit.
Yaro indicated that the house was closed when the fire ignited.
Despite the tragedy, Yaro expressed gratitude to the firefighters and the people of Daura town, whose prompt response and collective efforts helped to extinguish the flames.
This incident has spotlighted the need for improved fire safety measures in significant historical buildings like the palace of the Emir of Daura, a position of traditional authority with deep roots in the historical tapestry of Northern Nigeria.
Ogun: Fire Engulfs Wood Market in Sango Ota
A devastating fire broke out at a wood market in the Sango Ota area of Ogun State on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
The incident led to widespread panic among traders as the fire consumed large quantities of planks within the market.
As of the reporting time, the fire’s cause remains unclear.
However, an eyewitness named Tobias Imala revealed that the fire began around 10 am.
Traders were seen wailing and distraught as the fire raged on, destroying their goods and livelihoods.
Fire service personnel were at the scene, attempting to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
Further details on the damage’s extent and potential injuries are yet to be confirmed.
Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire once it is under control.
